HEUCHERA. Alum root. North America, Mexico. Tightly clumping perennials with round, scalloped or lobed basal leaves. The blooming stems are more or less erect and carry airy clusters of tiny bell shaped blossoms, white to deep red in color. I am pleased to see a new wave of interest in these plants, coupled with some serious effort on the part of various growers and hybridizers in reselecting for patterned leaves, showier flowers and other features. Sun near the coast, part shade inland, reasonably well drained soil, moderate to little watering when established. Watch for mealybug! Hardiness varies.
‘Dark Delight’. This was received years ago from friend Bill Baker as “sp. /Mexico” and offered as such for several years. However, having compared it to a large number of seedlings of ‘Palace Purple’, I think it is superior and deserves a cultivar name. The selection belongs to either H. americana or a closely related species. It forms tight clumps, with rosettes of broadly lobed, nearly flat leaves often over 3" across. They are more distinctly bicolored than those of ‘Palace Purple’, greener above and showing a lovely satiny sheen. Small pink-tinged blossoms are borne on dark red 1’ stems in summer. 10oF or less.
‘Genevieve’. A beautiful hybrid by the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, involving H. sanguinea and H. maxima (below). It has 2-3" leaves attractively marbled with grey and carries showers of deep pink white-centered blossoms on 2’ to 2½’ stems from spring to fall. 15oF or less.