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Thursday, July 20, 2017

Companion Plants II – Heucheras

Companion Plants II – Heucheras

      You don't see companion plants at first. The trees and bushes are noticed when you turn a corner or look over your shoulder. It's when you walk to the edge of a bed that you point and say “Hey, look at that!”
      Your first thought when “companion plants” are mentioned is Hosta. Your second thought: Ferns. If there is a third thought let me suggest it be: Heucheras. Heucheras can scurry around between their larger neighbors, filling in gaps with different colors and forms. It must be considered a foliage plant as its flowers are so inconspicuous that you have to be a true heuchera fanatic to care.
      The above are companion plants for azaleas and rhododendrons because they enjoy the same acid soil/dappled shade conditions and are unlikely to damage the dominant plants when sharing a bed. I would keep them outside the dripline of each azalea, but if they snuggle closer then a problem is unlikely.
      I'll mention some I grow and let you chase down their pictures on the net as there is limited space here for their formal portraits. They don't all love my garden conditions and some struggle, smiling weakly like a fat guy shuffling through a marathon, saying they're fine when they're not.
      While heucheras grow worldwide, the US has two distinct regions which support different types. In the southeast, acidic clay-loam soils easily support the native Villosa type. The rockier alkaline soils of the west are home to smaller leafed plants. I've only managed to kill a few heucheras in my Northern Virginia garden, but they've all been among the small leafed, less aggressive varieties. They had put on a brave face for a short time but couldn't fake it forever.
Citronelle 

      Growing well and outlining borders is the light green 'Citronelle' and the darker, tan-purple-green 'Caramel'. 'Citronelle' provides a bright contrast to the darker green surroundings of azaleas, trees and grass. 'Caramel' comes up a light tan in the spring with a purple underleaf which, like Marilyn Monroe's legs, displays in a wind gust. 'Caramel' turns greenish as the summer kicks into its hot gear. 'Obsidian' covers the other end of the dynamic range of light, a purple so dark it often looks black. A lighter purple is 'Palace Purple', a strong grower needing to be planted with space to stretch before elbowing into its neighbors. New to me is 'Dark Secret', a very dark purple with strongly ruffled edges. It might turn into a focal point in its bed. 'Southern Comfort' is a large leafed plant that seems really happy to be here, emerging reddish in the spring, changing to green with hints of tan.
Midnight Rose

      New to my garden last year was 'Midnight Rose' which has an unusual leaf. One of those plants that needs to be looked at closely: the dark purple leaf is streaked everywhere with light purple veining. An unusual combination. 'Tiramisu' was also new, coming up a bright tan and later turning green. Both of these plants were growing strongly by the end of the year.
Tiramisu

      Struggling ones I believe would be happier out west: 'Silver Scrolls' and 'Snow Angel', though if I had a sunnier location for them and a more neutral soil they might consent to thrive. Several very reddish heucheras have gone on to plant heaven, also known as the compost pile. 'Georgia Peach' comes to mind. Maybe it also needed more sun.
      Related to heucheras are Tiarellas. Advertised as “Foam Flowers”, the floral display briefly looks good, but their foliage is inferior to that of heucheras. 'Running Tapestry' does exactly that, running around the garden and invading other's space. I haven't torn it out but I might put it in prison.
      Heucheras have been bred with Tiarellas to create Heucherellas, recently given the name “Foamy Bells.” Unnecessarily confusing, but I don't sell plants. Maybe the confusion is commercial genius. Two that are doing well for me are 'Sweet Tea' and 'Alabama Sunrise'. 'Sweet Tea' has that familiar tan cast to its green base and 'Alabama Sunrise' is more greenish-yellow than anything else, but they both grow well.
Kassandra

      I am looking forward to the emergence of 'Kassandra', which I planted late last year and now shows tan leaves with excessively ruffled reddish-purple edges. Sometimes “excessive” is just enough.
      While you don't want a full bed of these uncommon plants, heucheras are great for contrast against the more pedestrian and dominant elements of your garden. Both for their coloring and leaf forms, they will draw you in for a closer look where you'll point and say “Hey, look at that!”

[ I bought and learned a lot from 'Heuchera, Tiarella and Heucherella, A gardener's guide, by Charles and Martha Oliver, B T Batsford Ltd., London, 2006 ]