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Herbaceous Perennial

Heuchera americana

American alum root

A mound-forming, evergreen perennial with rosettes of lobed, oval to heart-shaped, glossy leaves. Young foliage is marbled and veined brown, maturing to deep green with copper-green shading. Sprays of tiny, browny-green flowers on tall, upright stems appear in early spring

Other common names
American sanicle
rock geranium
Synonyms
Heuchera glauca

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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
2–5 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Brown Green
Summer Brown Green Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Drought resistance
Yes
Hardiness
H6
Botanical details
Family
Saxifragaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
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
E USA

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in containers in autumn, or by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning

Remove faded flower spikes

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworms and vine weevil

Diseases

May be affected by heuchera rust

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