Alum Root, Coralbells, Crimson Bells
Heuchera sanguinea
Family: Saxifragaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Pink, Red, White. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded.
Heuchera sanguinea is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.5
Where it is found
Moist shady rocks.
South-western N. America - S. Arizona, N. Mexico.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
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Other
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The root can be used as an alum substitute, this is a mordant used in fixing dyes. The root is rich in tannin, is this the active ingredient that acts as a mordant?. A good ground cover plant for the woodland garden. Plants should be spaced about 35cm apart each way.
Mordant: Used for making a dye more permanent, it also affects the colour of the dye.
Ground cover: Ground Cover
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Ground cover, Rock garden, Seashore, Specimen, Woodland garden. Succeeds in any good sweet garden soil that does not dry out in spring. Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade. Prefers a well-drained fairly rich and not too heavy soil. Plants are hardy to about -20°c. Apt to hybridize with other members of this genus. A very ornamental plant, there are many named forms. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers.
Propagating it: Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. The seed can also be sown in the middle of spring in an outdoor seedbed and planted out in early summer. Alternatively, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in the middle of summer for planting out in the following spring. Division in March or October. It is best to divide the plants in August or early September, making sure that the woody roots are planted quite deeply with only the crown of foliage above the ground.
Best place to grow: Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 4-10
Growth: Medium
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist