Coral bells (Heuchera 'Snow Angel')
Heuchera 'Snow Angel' Coral bells offers variegated light-green foliage and delicate pink blooms. Ideal for borders and rock gardens.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’, commonly known as Coral bells, is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial prized for its year-round visual interest, even outside of bloom time. This specific cultivar forms a dense basal mound featuring variegated, light-green, heart-shaped leaves accented with a lovely creamy mottling. Its aesthetic appeal makes Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ an indispensable texture plant in shaded garden areas.
Bloom time generally spans from May through June when the plant sends up wiry panicles carrying tiny yet showy pink, bell-shaped flowers that rise above the foliage mound. As a hybrid coral bells, it offers robust performance, though its specific parentage—like many modern selections—remains somewhat obscure. Gardeners appreciate this plant for its versatility in blending with diverse planting schemes.
Cultivating Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ successfully depends heavily on appropriate soil and moisture management. While it brings outstanding texture, consistency in care ensures the foliage remains vibrant and avoids scorch, especially when planted in sunnier exposures. It serves as a reliable, medium-maintenance choice for adding permanent structure to borders and woodland settings.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Saxifragaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-1.5 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Heucheras, including Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’, thrive best when planted in the spring or fall into organically rich, humusy soils with excellent drainage. While these coral bells tolerate full sun, particularly in northern climates, they prefer protection from the intense afternoon heat, especially in the southern reaches of their range (Zone 8). In hot locations, supplemental shade is crucial for maintaining foliage quality.
Maintain medium moisture levels consistently, as allowing the soil to completely dry out can lead to leaf scorch and general decline. If grown in full sun, diligent watering is paramount. Fertilizing is usually unnecessary if the soil preparation was thorough, focusing instead on adding compost annually. Deadheading faded flower stems encourages a cleaner look, though it is not essential for plant health.
Winter care is simple. In very cold winter climates, the foliage may look diminished depending on temperature severity, but applying a layer of compost over the root zone after the ground freezes helps insulate against damaging root heaving. To refresh mature plants and maintain vigor, plan to divide clumps every three to four years during the spring season. Successfully growing Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ relies on this balance of rich, draining soil and attentive watering.
Landscape Uses
Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ excels as a foundational evergreen element in mixed perennial beds. Their compact mounding habit makes them effective as edging plants, providing a clean, low border along stone paths, walkways, or the front of deeper borders where their variegated foliage can be easily appreciated. They look excellent when massed together or planted in irregular groups to create drifts of texture.
Given their preference for partial shade, Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ are ideal partners for larger woodland shrubs, hostas, ferns, and spring ephemerals. The light green and creamy tones of this cultivar contrast beautifully against darker foliage plants or deep bronze Heucheras. They also perform reliably in rock gardens, softening hardscaping elements while maintaining structure through the cooler months.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
- Good Cut
Noteworthy Characteristics
Heuchera, commonly called coral bells or alumroot, is a genus of evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials native to North America, thriving in diverse habitats from woodlands to rocky cliffs. Hybrid cultivars like ‘Snow Angel’ offer expanded leaf color variations, though this variety is noted for its variegated, light-green, heart-shaped leaves with a creamy, mottled appearance. Flowers appear on tall, wiry spikes in early summer, adding delicate pink punctuation above the dense foliage base.
Tolerances
There is no data regarding specific tolerances listed for this cultivar.
Potential Problems
Frost heaving of the roots can occur when winter temperatures fluctuate widely; this is best mitigated by applying a slow-to-decompose mulch, such as compost, only after the ground has frozen securely. Potential disease issues for coral bells include fungal problems like powdery mildew and rust, as well as bacterial leaf spot, often exacerbated by overly wet conditions or poor air circulation. Insect pests, although less common, may include weevils or foliar nematodes; always inspect new purchases carefully and maintain good garden hygiene to prevent outbreaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Coral bells suitable for?
Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with a spread ranging from 0.75 to 1 foot wide.
What sun exposure does Coral bells need?
This variety performs well in full sun, though it generally prefers partial shade, especially when planted in the hotter afternoon sun locations within zones 7 or 8.
When does Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ bloom?
The plant produces its delicate pink, bell-shaped flowers primarily between May and June.
Conclusion
Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ provides invaluable texture and year-round color, making it a garden favorite beyond just its beautiful pink blooms. This reliable coral bells variety offers medium maintenance with high ornamental reward when planted in suitable, well-drained soil. Check your local hardiness zone compatibility now to ensure successful planting this spring or fall.
Companion Planting
Selecting compatible neighbors is key to maximizing the beauty of Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’. Since this coral bells variety appreciates rich, evenly moist soil and partial shade, pair it with other woodland edge inhabitants. Consider using shade-loving ferns, large-leafed Hostas for contrasting texture, or other low-growing perennials like Epimedium (Barrenwort) that share similar moisture requirements but offer different bloom times.
When grouping plants, think about color contrast to let the creamy variegation of Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ truly shine. Darker foliage plants, such as deep purple Ajuga or dark-leafed Tiarella, create a dramatic backdrop that highlights the lighter tones of the foliage mound. This thoughtful arrangement ensures visual interest across the entire growing season.
Design Ideas for Coral Bells
The tidy, mounding habit of Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ lends itself perfectly to formal container designs or as a structural element in highly textured shade gardens. In pots, use it as the “thriller” or focal point, surrounded by cascading plants like creeping Jenny or trailing Vinca minor. For a naturalistic woodland feel, intersperse them informally among groundcovers.
Use the consistent green and white tones to unify diverse planting areas. Since Heuchera ‘Snow Angel’ foliage is relatively stable, it acts as a quiet accent that doesn’t overwhelm neighboring flowers when they are in their peak bloom. This stability ensures the garden retains structure and brightness even during dormant seasons.
