Coral bells (Heuchera 'Midnight Rose')
Stunning Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' coral bells offers deep nearly black foliage speckled with pink spots. Hardy in zones 4-9.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’, a cultivar of the beloved Coral bells, is prized by gardeners for its dramatic, nearly black foliage speckled with contrasting hot pink spots. This distinctive coloring provides year-round interest, anchoring shade and partial sun gardens with deep, rich texture. As a vigorous hybrid, Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ forms a compact basal mound that remains tidy throughout the growing season.
This perennial’s primary allure lies in its foliage, which retains its deep hue better than many older varieties. While it does produce small, airy panicles of creamy white flowers in summer, many gardeners choose to remove these to keep the focus squarely on the stunning leaves. Growing Coral bells like ‘Midnight Rose’ brings reliable, low-maintenance structure to woodland-style plantings.
Understanding the parentage of your Coral bells dictates optimum performance; however, Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ generally thrives with consistently moist, well-drained soil. Expect a mature size that provides substantial ground coverage without becoming overly aggressive, making it a versatile choice for sophisticated garden design.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Saxifragaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: June to July
- Bloom Description: Creamy white
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Planting Coral bells is best done in spring or fall, ensuring the planting site offers organically rich, humusy soil with excellent drainage. While Heuchera tolerates full sun in cooler northern climates, the foliage of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ benefits significantly from some afternoon shade, especially in hotter regions, to prevent scorching or decline. Consistent moisture is crucial if grown in brighter locations.
Watering should maintain a medium moisture level; avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this stresses the plant and can lead to foliage damage. Maintenance is moderate. Deadheading the faded flower stems encourages better foliage display, although these stems are often removed entirely as the flowers are not the main attraction.
In colder zones, apply a winter compost mulch after the ground freezes to mitigate root heaving caused by fluctuating winter temperatures. To maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding, divide the clumps of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ every three to four years during the spring.
Landscape Uses
The deeply pigmented leaves of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ make it an outstanding textural contrast plant. Use these Coral bells generously in mass plantings to create a carpet of dark color beneath taller shrubs or dappled shade trees. They are highly effective when used as an edger along woodland pathways or walkways where their slow spread defines boundaries neatly.
In rock gardens or mixed perennial borders, Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ pairs beautifully with plants that offer brighter, lime-green or silver foliage, allowing its dark coloring to pop vividly. Consider pairing it with hostas, ferns, or early-blooming spring bulbs that die back before the Coral bells mound fully develops its summer form.
These low-growing mounds are also excellent anchors for containers or mixed patio displays. Grouping several shades of dark foliage together creates a sophisticated, monochromatic effect before introducing a vertical element like an ornamental grass.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
‘Midnight Rose’ is a clump-forming hybrid noted for its dark purple to almost black leaves speckled with contrasting hot pink spots that mature to cream. This cultivar forms a compact basal mound typically reaching 10-12 inches tall and 14 inches wide. Small, creamy white flowers appear on slender purple stems rising above the foliage in late spring to early summer.
Tolerances
No data provided for tolerances.
Potential Problems
Potential issues primarily revolve around environmental stress and common fungal diseases. Frost heaving of roots can occur when winter temperatures fluctuate widely throughout the season, so ensuring good winter mulch application is vital for healthy root crowns. Potential disease problems include powdery mildew, rust, and bacterial leaf spot.
To manage moisture-related issues, ensure excellent soil drainage, as constantly wet soil exacerbates fungal problems. While potential insect pests include weevils and foliar nematodes, this particular cultivar benefits from good resistance to powdery mildew, often a significant concern for other Heuchera types.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Coral bells suitable for?
Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Coral bells grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a height between 1 and 2 feet, and spreads between 0.75 and 1 foot wide, forming a compact mound.
What sun exposure does Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ need?
Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ performs best in conditions ranging from full sun to part shade, though protection from harsh afternoon sun is often recommended in warmer zones.
When does Coral bells bloom?
This variety blooms from June into July, displaying small, creamy white flowers on tall stems above the dark foliage.
Conclusion
The intense, dark foliage of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ provides non-stop dramatic impact, making this Coral bells variety an indispensable element for adding depth to mixed borders and shaded areas. This hybrid is relatively easy to manage, provided its preference for consistent moisture and well-drained soil is met. Before purchasing, always confirm that your local conditions fall within USDA Zones 4-9 to ensure success with your new Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions that share the medium water and partial shade needs of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ ensures a unified planting scheme. Consider using bright, textural contrasts like plants with chartreuse or silver foliage, such as Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) or Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’. Both plants appreciate similar humus-rich soil conditions.
For vertical variation beneath deciduous trees, pair the low mound of Coral bells with taller, airy blooms like Astilbe or Cimicifuga (Actaea). These companions will bloom sequentially, providing visual interest throughout the spring, summer, and early fall while maintaining consistent shade requirements.
Propagation Tips
The easiest method for propagating established clumps of Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ is through division every 3 to 4 years in the spring. When dividing, gently lift the clump and carefully separate it into smaller sections, ensuring each new piece has several healthy roots attached. Plant these divisions immediately at the same depth they were previously growing.
While species plants can often be grown from seed, this hybrid cultivar is generally perpetuated through vegetative division to ensure the retention of its specific leaf coloration and spotting. Never let the separated divisions dry out; keep them lightly moist until they are replanted in enriched garden soil.
