Coral bells (Heuchera 'Green Spice')
Heuchera 'Green Spice' Coral bells offer distinctive silvery, gray-edged foliage with purple veins. A versatile medium-maintenance perennial for borders and shade gardens.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’, commonly known as Coral bells, is a spectacular herbaceous perennial prized primarily for its unique foliage display. This cultivar forms a dense basal mound of rounded, lobed leaves, featuring silvery-gray coloring dramatically edged with purple veins, especially noticeable during cooler weather. Cultivars like Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ bring year-round color interest to shaded garden spaces where many other plants struggle.
While the foliage is the main attraction, this Alum root also produces delicate, airy panicles of small white flowers in early summer. Growing reliably in USDA zones 4 through 9, this cultivar offers excellent structural impact, maturing to a manageable size perfect for borders and foundation plantings. Good cultural care ensures the longevity and vibrancy of the distinctive leaves of Heuchera ‘Green Spice’.
Gardeners appreciate Coral bells for their versatility in different light conditions, though optimal color display usually requires protection from the harshest summer sun. Providing deep, rich soil and consistent moisture will result in robust clumps that define edges and add texture beneath taller shrubs or trees.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Saxifragaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2.5 ft
- Spread: 1-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: White
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ is easiest in spring or fall when the weather is mild. These plants thrive best in organically rich, humusy soils that maintain medium moisture levels but must remain well-drained. While they tolerate full sun in cooler northern climates, most locations benefit from part shade, especially protection from hot afternoon sun, which prevents leaf scorch.
Consistent moisture is crucial, particularly if you site this Coral bells cultivar in a sunnier spot; never allow the soil to fully dry out. Fertilizing is generally unnecessary if the initial soil preparation was thorough. Prune out the spent flower stems in mid-summer to tidy the plant and potentially encourage a minor repeat flush of blooms.
For winter protection in cold regions, apply a compost mulch only after the ground has frozen solid; this prevents damaging root heaving caused by freeze-thaw cycles. To maintain vigor, plan to divide the clumps of Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ every three to four years during the spring season.
Landscape Uses
Coral bells are invaluable for adding textural contrast and consistent color to shaded garden beds. Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ works wonderfully when massed together to create a low-growing tapestry of silvery-gray foliage that brightens darker corners. They are highly effective as a defined border along walkways or paths where their tidy mounds can be easily appreciated up close.
Consider using this cultivar in rock gardens where excellent drainage is naturally provided, or integrate them into the middle layer of an open woodland garden setting. Their unique colors pair elegantly with broad-leaved hostas, ferns that enjoy similar shade, or contrasting dark-leaved Heuchera varieties for multi-toned effect.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Heuchera, commonly called coral bells or alumroot, is a genus consisting of about 55 species of evergreen to semi-evergreen herbaceous perennials which are all native to North America. Cultivars like Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ showcase leaves in expanded color palettes, often featuring streaked or mottled variegation. This specific clump-forming cultivar features silvery, gray-edged leaves with purple veins that deepen in cool weather, creating a beautiful basal mound below airy panicles of small white flowers.
Potential Problems
Frost heaving—where fluctuating winter temperatures push roots upward—is a primary concern in colder regions; apply a protective mulch only after the ground freezes. Keep an eye out for common fungal issues like powdery mildew and rust, which thrive in overly humid or stagnant conditions. If pests like weevils or foliar nematodes appear, address them promptly with appropriate cultural adjustments or targeted treatments, remembering that good air circulation aids in disease prevention.
Propagation Tips
While species plants can often be grown from seed, hybrid Coral bells like Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ are almost universally propagated via division. This process is best performed in the spring when new growth is just beginning. Carefully lift the clump and gently tease apart divisions, ensuring each section has a healthy set of roots attached to establish successfully in its new location.
Companion Planting
Given the preference of Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ for medium moisture and dappled light, companion plants should share similar cultural needs. Pair them with shade-loving annuals like Impatiens for high-impact summer color, or use companions with bold foliage such as Hosta varieties or Astilbe. These partnerships create layered interest, blending the fine texture of the Coral bells flowers with bolder leaf shapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Coral bells suitable for?
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ is highly versatile, thriving in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9, making it suitable for a wide range of North American gardens.
How large does Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ grow?
This perennial coral bells cultivar typically reaches a height between 1.5 to 2.5 feet, with a spread ranging from 1 to 1.5 feet, forming a dense, attractive mound.
What sun exposure does Coral bells need?
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ prefers full sun to part shade. In hotter southern climates, afternoon shade is strongly recommended to prevent leaf scorch.
When does Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ bloom?
This variety produces its small, whitish flowers on slender stems from June into July, adding a subtle, airy texture above the dense foliage mound.
Conclusion
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ is an essential perennial for gardeners seeking reliable texture and year-round color interest, particularly in partially shaded areas. The striking silvery-gray foliage of this Coral bells cultivar provides a dynamic focal point throughout all four seasons. Before planting, confirm that your garden site provides the rich, well-drained soil and moderate moisture that this beautiful Alum root demands.
