Heuchera, Alum Root, Alumroot, Coral Bells, Coralbells 'Plum Pudding'

I see it's not only me. I have planted these more times that I should have in two different gardens. They heave out of the soil in...Read More the winter and seem to peter out in a couple of years. On the other hand, the tiarella I planted a few years ago is doing so, so well in a corner of my yard will probably be my replacement plant for the heuchera, since it has a lot of the same qualities, but has been a great success for me.

A landscape architect chose Coral Bells for a mostly-shady spot at the front of our house. He chose poorly for this climate, I think. (S...Read Morean Diego/ North County) It's a pretty plant but every one of the 20+ plants died, one by one. One came back after the winter and died soon after.

I'm so weary of this plant. I always fall in love with it in magazines, nurseries and other gardens. I buy it because it's listed for e...Read Morevery shade garden in every periodical. I've tried it in bright shade, moist soil; dry shade; dappled shade with hand watering when dry; and heavier shade with a few hours of afternoon sun. I have good mulch, and loam/silt soil. IF the plant struggles through it's first season and actually hangs in there (barely) until the next spring, it's a fraction of the size and never (ever) produces a flower. I wish this plant would stop being listed as a "favorite" shade plant because my green thumb turns brown every time with it. After 20 years of trying, I'm throwing in the towel.

I have several of these in various degrees of shade in my yard, and they all do well. They form beautiful full clumps. The plants become ...Read Moresomewhat fuller with a little sun. The purple foliage forms a lovely contrast with the green of other plants, and the mounding form visiually grounds your landscape. The plants seem to benefit from occasional dead-heading.