Heuchera villosa 'Palace Purple'
Purple leaved coral bells, Hairy alum root
Also known as Heuchera micrantha var. diversifolia 'Palace Purple'
- Height × spread
- 0.46m × 0.4m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Generally available in Spring & Autumn
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This handsome plant is primarily grown for its foliage which consists of big jagged edged leaves, crinkly and shiny, coloured red-brown on their upper surface, red on the underside. The leaves blaze when caught by the sun so can look wonderful on a raised bed where the light can hit the leaves' underside. The foliage stays for most of the year but as the plant scrunches itself up into a knob for the cold season, it can look rather scrappy by the end of winter. This produces slender panicles of pinkish flowers in late summer.
- Flower colour
- Brown, Red
- Foliage colour
- Mahogany, Purple, Red
- Stem colour
- Brown, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.46m
- Spread
- 0.4m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Seaside garden, Cottage garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Bee attraction
- Maintenance
- Easycare – low/no maintenance
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Apply slow release fertiliser
Apply a slow release fertiliser which is spread around the root area of plants soon after they have come into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring · Planting
Replant every other year
Every other year the woody stem (in fact part of the rhizome) of heuchera can be replanted. When it reaches more than 7cm in length, simply dig the plant out and immediately replant it more deeply.
Summer
Summer-Autumn · Planting
Trim dead heuchera flowers
The delicate flowering stems of heuchera can simply be carefully tugged off, they will readily detach when their time comes.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
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