Heuchera pulchella

RHS Plant Profile
beautiful alum root
Plants for pollinators
Herbaceous Perennial

A compact, clump-forming evergreen perennial to about 12cm in height. This pretty species heuchera is from Mexico and has small, mid-green leaves with fine little downy hairs. The pinky-white flowers are held on short stems above the foliage, from spring into summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Saxifragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Heuchera are more or less evergreen, clump-forming perennials with attractive, rounded, shallowly palmately lobed leaves and racemes or panicles of small, tubular flowers, often with colourful calyces
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
S USA, New Mexico

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile, moist but well-drained, neutral soil in sun or partial shade. The woody rootstock tends to lift out of the ground so mulch annually or lift and replant ensuring the crown is not buried. See Heuchera cultivation for more detailed advice

Propagation

Propagate by division; this genus needs to be divided regularly. Lift the plant once in spring growth, taking small vigorous sections from around the edge. Each section should have good roots and 2-3 shoots

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Remove faded flower spikes and tidy up old foliage in early spring

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworms and vine weevil

Diseases

May be suscpetible to heuchera rust