Coral bells (Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles')
Heuchera 'Chocolate Ruffles' offers dark chocolate foliage and delicate white blooms. This Coral bells cultivar thrives in part shade.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’, commonly known as Coral bells, is prized for its dramatically textured and richly colored foliage, making it an outstanding perennial for season-long interest. This cultivar features deeply cut, rounded leaves that emerge pinkish-copper before deepening to a characteristic dark chocolate or deep purple hue. Its ruffled leaf edges give it a dynamic appearance that stands out even when not in bloom.
As a clump-forming perennial, Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ provides consistent structure in the garden. While valued for its dark leaves, it also contributes airy verticality when its tiny, white, bell-shaped flowers appear on slender stems in late spring and early summer. Generally requiring medium maintenance, its success relies heavily on providing the right balance of moisture and partial shade.
This specific variety, Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’, is celebrated as one of the superior purple-foliaged Coral bells hybrids available. It performs best when protected from the harshest afternoon sun, especially in warmer climates, ensuring the foliage remains pristine and avoids scorching.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Saxifragaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ is ideally done in spring or fall when temperatures are moderate. These Coral bells thrive in organically rich, humusy soils that maintain medium moisture but are guaranteed to be well-drained. Too much shade can mute the deep chocolate coloring, while too much sun, especially in southern heat, demands consistent watering to prevent leaf scorch.
Care involves ensuring even moisture; allow the soil surface to approach dryness between waterings, but never let the plant become completely desiccated if attempting full sun culture. Prune faded flower stems to encourage any potential repeat blooming, though foliage is the primary display. In colder zones, apply a winter compost mulch only after the ground freezes to prevent root heaving caused by freeze-thaw cycles.
Divide crowded clumps every three to four years during the spring to maintain vigor and prevent crowding, which can impact air circulation. While foliage color retention in winter depends on cold severity, protecting the plant culturally will help ensure it remains an attractive evergreen feature in warmer climates.
Landscape Uses
The deep, rich color of Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ makes it an excellent choice for creating high-contrast plantings. Use these Coral bells masses or groups to define the edges of woodland borders or tucked into rock gardens where the dark foliage plays beautifully against gray stone. They are particularly effective as an edger along paths or walkways, adding year-round structure.
In design, utilize the dark tone of ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ to make neighboring plants with chartreuse or silver foliage pop. They pair naturally with ferns, Hosta varieties with lighter centers, or spring-blooming bulbs, creating layered interest throughout the season. Since they prefer reliable moisture and part shade, incorporate them near water features or under deciduous trees.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Heuchera, commonly called coral bells or alum root, is a genus consisting of about 55 species of evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials that are native to North America. ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ is a standout clump-forming perennial, noted for its basal mound of deeply cut, long-petioled leaves that mature to a dark chocolate color. Tiny, white, bell-shaped flowers are borne on slender stems extending well above the foliage in late spring to early summer.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
The most common cultural stress for Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ results from winter fluctuations. Frost heaving of roots can occur if temperatures alternate frequently between freezing and thawing; apply mulch after the soil freezes solid to mitigate this in northern regions.
Disease issues primarily involve fungal pathogens like powdery mildew, rust, and bacterial leaf spot; ensure good air circulation by not overcrowding plants. Monitor for insect pests such as weevils or foliar nematodes, addressing infections promptly according to standard horticultural practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Coral bells suitable for?
Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a height between 1 and 2 feet and spreads between 1 and 1.5 feet wide at maturity.
What sun exposure does Coral bells need?
This perennial performs best in full sun to part shade conditions, generally preferring shade during intense afternoon heat.
When does Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ bloom?
The bloom time is from May to June, featuring small, airy white flowers.
Conclusion
Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ is invaluable for gardeners seeking deep, textural foliage that anchors shaded borders throughout the year. The dramatic dark color provides excellent contrast against other perennials, solidifying its place as a top-tier Coral bells selection. Before planting, confirm that your garden conditions fall between USDA Zones 4 and 9 and that you can provide that crucial, well-drained, humusy soil.
Companion Planting
Selecting appropriate companions for Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ centers on complementing its size and light requirements. Pair it with plants that enjoy similar dappled sunlight, such as Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra), various shade-loving hostas, or delicate spring ephemerals like Bloodroot. The deep purple foliage provides a strong backdrop for lighter green or variegated groundcovers.
Grouping ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ near emerging spring bulbs, like Daffodils or early Tulips, allows the Heuchera foliage to provide transitional interest once the bulbs fade. Ensure nearby plants do not aggressively crowd the shallow root system of the Coral bells, as competition for medium moisture can negatively impact performance.
Propagation Tips
The simplest method for increasing your stock of Heuchera ‘Chocolate Ruffles’ is through division. Because this is a hybrid, propagation via seed is unreliable for replicating the exact foliage characteristics. Plan to divide the established clumps in early spring, separating the crowded sections into smaller portions that retain healthy roots and growing buds.
When dividing, ensure each new division is large enough to establish itself successfully, ideally maintaining at least three active crowns. Replant these divisions immediately into the prepared, enriched garden beds or containers, ensuring the crown sits just at the soil line. Keep the newly divided Coral bells consistently moist for several weeks while they settle into their new locations.
