American alumroot, Rock geranium
Heuchera americana
Family: Saxifragaceae
What it is like
An evergreen herb that keeps growing from year to year. It has rhizomes or underground stems. The shoots are 30-1.2 m tall. The leaves have long stalks. The leaves grow in rings. They have 5-9 lobes that are broadly oval or heart shaped. Leaves turn red in cooler weather. The flowers are very small and green or cream. They are in narrow loose panicles. The plants form mounds 60 cm across.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows in rich woods and on rocky slopes. It suits hardiness zones 4-8.
Countries/locations it is found in
Canada, North America, Slovenia
How it is used for food
The leaves are sour but added in small amounts to salads.
Edible parts
Roots, leaves
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Ameriški ognjeni dež