Heucherella
What are heucherella plants? Heucherella (x Heucherella tiarelloides) mixes two closely linked plants – Heuchera, widely known as coral bells, and Tiarella cordifolia, otherwise known as foamflower.
The “x” in the name is an indication that the plant is a hybrid or a cross between two separate plants.
As one might expect, heucherella offers many of the benefits of its two parent plants. Read on for more heucherella plant information.
Heucherella vs. Heuchera
Heucherella and heuchera are both North American natives and suitable for cultivating in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 9.
Heucherella, frequently grown as a ground-cover or border plant, got the attractive leaves of the heuchera flower, but the heart-shaped leaves are often smaller.
The foamy-resembling heucherella blooms (looks like a foamflower) are accessible in pink, cream, and white shades.
Heucherella is more immune to rust disease and tends to be more tolerant of both heat and humidity.
Otherwise, the differences in color and form of the two plants depend primarily on the variety, as both are available in various sizes and shapes.
Growing a Heucherella Plant
Growing heucherella isn’t hard; however, well-drained soil is crucial to avert the roots from overwatering.
Enrich the soil ahead of planting with compost or properly-rotted manure. Shade is beneficial for most heucherella varieties, although the plant can tolerate more sun in cooler climates. Darker foliage also seems to be more sun tolerant once rooted.
Although heucherella is somewhat drought tolerant, it benefits from sporadic watering along with warm, dry weather conditions.
Don’t let the plant turn badly wilted; however, be mindful not to over-water, as heucherella is inclined to rot in soggy, poorly drained soil.
Heucherella is a low feeder, but the plant benefits from regular applications of a water-soluble fertilizer mixed at half strength.
Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers, which can cause spindly growth. Replant heucherella in freshly amended soil every three or four years to keep the plant healthy and vibrant. Discard the oldest part of the crown.
Heucherella Culture Tips
Heucherella is a beautiful plant in containers, providing both spiller and filler services while not overshadowing other varieties.
Silver-leaved sorts like heucherella ‘Twilight’ create an excellent foil for shiny-flowered annuals.
Despite being from a wide range of genetic backgrounds, the culture of these plants is pretty basic and similar.
Media: Heucherella prefers well-drained media as drainage is crucial to this type, and high-peat mixtures may drench this plant.
Planting: Set one 72-cell liner per 4-inch quart or one-gallon pot and two or three liners per pot for larger sizes.
Ensure to plant the liner even with the terminal depth of soil in the container, as these plants are rapidly killed by sinking the crown.
pH/EC: These plants favor a media pH of 5.4 to 6.5 and an EC of 0.76 to 1.25 via the pour-thru means.
Temperature: A 50°F to 55°F night-time air temperature and a 60°F to 65°F daytime air temperature is perfect for heucherella.
Root temperature is as well very vital for success, with 55°F to 60°F being perfect. Be cautious to avoid extreme root temperatures as roots can be harmed quickly over the summer, especially in black containers.
Light: Nearly all heucherella likes filtered light and thrive best below 30 to 50 % shade, according to location.
Fewer-foliage varieties like ‘Twilight’ do well in full sunny places if the plant is well-rooted and has required irrigation.
‘Brass Lantern,” ‘Cracked Ice,’ ‘Solar Eclipse,’ and ‘Sweet Tea’ are cluttering varieties that as well do good in sunny spots in the trials at the Denver Botanic Garden.
The following varieties advised for sunny positions are ‘Copper Cascade’ and ‘Redstone Falls.’
Fertilizer/Watering: Provide plants with a low rate of permanent liquid feed of 17-5-17 or 20-10-20 at 50 to 75 ppm nitrogen.
A high level of nitrogen will invoke lush, soft growth, being more susceptible to illness. Maintain the growing medium evenly moist during production as arid conditions damage roots.
If flowers are allowed to wilt badly, a preventative fungicide application is advisable, as root-rot pathogens quickly colonize damaged roots.
Pinch/PGRs: Neither pinching nor PGRs is needed to grow heucherella. The trailing sorts can be cut back if they become overgrown or inter-twined with the neighboring plants.
Pests/Disease: While rust being problematic in some heuchera, all heucherella seems hugely resistant to the illness.
Nevertheless, bacterial spotting and root-rot pathogens are connected with heucherella. Avoid overhead watering to prevent bacterial discovery.
The good bacteria Bacillus subtilis may block spotting, but copper fungicides are most effective for cleaning up an ongoing outbreak.
Maintaining the soil evenly moist and at the proper temperature will prevent most root pathogens, but broadspectrum fungicides like thiophanatemethyl and triazole work well for fixing issues.
To some extent, few pests affect heucherella; albeit, root weevils may be troublesome. Notched foliage on close plants, particularly rhododendrons, yews, and hosta, tells signs of their existence.
Chemical control of weevil grubs may be accomplished with a drench of acephate or a neonicotinoid.
Mature weevils may be regulated by acephate and pyrethroid mists; however, these treatments are most beneficial when done during the evening as the beetles are nocturnal.
Nematodes can also be effective but follow the manufacturer’s irrigation instructions, as the proper application protocol is critical for success.
Some animal pests can be a problem—deer and rabbits enjoy eating the fresh new foliage and flowers but prefer to leave the elder leaves.
Scheduling: 72-cell liners perform well in most pots, but 4-inch, quart, and gallon dimensions are most used.
Growing a 72-cell to a 4-inch pot requires 4 to 6 weeks, a quart container would need 5 to 7 weeks, and a one-gallon pot would complete in 8 to 10 weeks.
As you can see, the care of heucherella is relatively easy and similar to that of its parents.
