Ornamental · Saxifragaceae
Coral Bells
Heuchera sanguinea
Grown for its bold, year-round foliage as much as its airy spring flowers, coral bells set the shade alight.
Partial shade
USDA 3–8
8–20 in · 20–50 cm
Overview
Coral bells hook you with the leaves and seal the deal with the flowers. The mounded clumps blaze through a striking range of colors, from deep purple and bronze to lime green and peach, and they hang onto that color from spring clear into fall. Then late spring rolls in and slim wiry stems shoot up above the mound, waving tiny bell-shaped blooms that pull hummingbirds straight to the garden.
Growing this one pays off fast, since it is an easygoing perennial that asks for barely anything once it takes hold. It runs in the saxifrage family and grows wild across much of North America, which is a big part of why it rolls with such a wide swing of conditions. Put it to work as an edging plant, as a filler that plugs gaps in shady borders, or as a tidy mound parked near the front of a bed.
Hand it the light and soil it craves and it keeps delivering for years. Nail these and you are set: even moisture, good drainage, and a spot clear of harsh afternoon sun. Botch them and rich foliage flips to scorched edges and rotting crowns in a hurry.
Care
The short version: drop coral bells into part shade with rich, well-drained soil, keep the moisture even so the roots never sit wet, and deadhead the spent flower stalks to keep the blooms rolling.
Light
Coral bells thrive in partial shade, though they happily take partial sun and even full shade. A dose of sun deepens the leaf color and drives more flowers, but in hot regions the afternoon sun scorches the foliage, so pull them out of its path.
Water
Chase medium, even moisture, which counts most for plants out in full sun where the leaves scorch the moment they dry out. They toughen into drought tolerance once established, but never let the roots sit wet, since soggy soil kicks off root rot.
Soil
Plant them in humus-rich, well-drained soil loaded with plenty of organic matter. A pH between 6.0 and 7.0 hits the mark, and steer clear of heavy clay that traps water around the crown.
Humidity
Average humidity covers it, so there is no number to chase. Airflow beats moisture in the air every time, since still, damp conditions are what fire up powdery mildew and other leaf diseases.
Feeding
Coral bells eat light. A single spring application of balanced fertilizer, or a topdressing of compost through the growing season, keeps the foliage packed and full.
Pruning
Deadhead the spent flower stalks to keep the blooms rolling through the season. Come spring, clear out any old or winter-battered foliage to hand the fresh growth room to run.
Size & spacing
The mounds climb 8 to 20 inches (20 to 50 cm) tall and spread 9 to 18 inches (23 to 46 cm) wide. Give each plant room to fill out its full mound so air rips through and the leaves stay dry.
When to plant
Coral bells dig in best when the weather runs cool. Get divisions or nursery stock into the ground in late fall or early spring, and the bell-shaped flowers break out from May into June, often powering on through early fall as long as you keep clipping the spent stalks.
Northern hemisphere
Southern hemisphere
Typical months for a temperate climate: start earlier in warm zones, later where spring frosts linger.
- Sow: Late winter to early spring; surface-sow seed as it needs light to germinate
- Plant: Late fall or early spring
- Harvest: May to June, often through early fall if deadheaded
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zones: 3–8
Temperature: down to -40°C
Troubleshooting
Nearly every coral bells snag comes down to water, sun, or winter cold. Catch the early signs on the leaves and crown and you can jump in before a small problem takes off. Match what you spot below, then move while it still counts.
Wilting clump with a blackened crown that collapses
A wilting clump with a black, soft crown spells root rot, usually the water mold Phytophthora, and it barrels in wherever soil stays soggy or drains badly. Scrape at the base and the roots and crown come up dark and mushy. A plant this far gone is done, so yank it, dig in a good helping of organic matter to get the bed draining, and pull way back on the water.
Fix:
- Improve drainage and amend with organic matter
- Avoid overwatering
- Remove and discard severely affected plants
White powder, rusty bumps, or spots on the leaves
A few foliar diseases can crash the party on coral bells, powdery mildew, rust, and bacterial leaf spot among them. They fire up when leaves stay wet and the air goes stagnant. Open up some room so air rushes through, aim the water at the base instead of overhead, and snip off any leaf that already shows marks.
Fix:
- Improve air circulation
- Avoid overhead watering
- Remove affected foliage
Plant shoved up out of the soil with roots showing
A crown jacked up out of the ground over winter points to frost heaving, the handiwork of freeze-and-thaw cycles muscling the plant upward. Once the roots hit the cold, dry air, the clock starts ticking. Firm or replant the crown back to its old depth come spring, then pile on a winter mulch once the ground freezes to hold the soil temperature steady.
Fix:
- Gently press or replant the crown back into the soil in spring
- Apply winter mulch after the ground freezes
Crispy brown edges creeping along the leaves
Crispy brown edges flag leaf scorch, which strikes when a sun-baked plant runs low on water through hot, dry spells. It hits the most exposed leaves first, so it stands out fast. Slide the plant into afternoon shade where summers really crank up, and keep the soil evenly moist so the leaves stay quenched.
Fix:
- Provide afternoon shade in hot climates
- Maintain consistent soil moisture
Toxicity
Great news for anyone with pets or kids: coral bells are safe top to bottom. The ASPCA tags them as non-toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, and there is nothing to sweat for rabbits, livestock, birds, or people either. Plant them wherever you please and enjoy.
Safe for
People · Cats · Dogs · Horses · Rabbits · Livestock · Birds
Cats None
Coral bells land on the non-toxic list, so a curious cat can grab a bite of leaf and be totally fine.
Dogs None
A dog can chomp the foliage and walk away unbothered, since no part of the plant poisons them.
Horses None
Horses stay safe right alongside these plants, with zero toxins in the leaves, stems, or flowers.
Rabbits Safe
Rabbits can munch coral bells all they like with no poisoning risk at all.
Livestock Safe
Livestock grazing past this plant in the pasture or garden face no danger from it.
Birds Safe
Birds that peck at the leaves or seed stay perfectly safe.
People Safe
People run no poisoning risk either, so kids can handle the foliage without a care.
Varieties
Breeders have loaded coral bells with a huge spread of leaf colors, and a few selections really pop. These are the ones worth knowing by name.
Palace Purple
It grabbed the 1991 Perennial Plant of the Year title, and gardeners chase it for the foliage, deep purple to bronze-green lobed leaves flashing wine-red undersides.
Georgia Peach
Its peach-to-rose foliage was bred to power through heat and humidity better than the older types manage.
Primo 'Pretty Pistachio'
This one throws bright lime-green leaves against soft pink flowers.
How to propagate
Multiplying coral bells is a breeze, whether you split an established clump or launch the species from seed.
DivisionEasy
Spring, dividing clumps every 3-4 years · One growing season
The fastest way to spin up more coral bells is to divide the clumps in spring, lifting the crowns and splitting them every 3 to 4 years. Drop each division back at its original depth in amended soil, and it roots in over a single growing season.
SeedModerate
Late winter to early spring · Bloom typically the following year; named hybrids do not come true from seed
Fancy raising the straight species from seed? Sow it in late winter to early spring, but surface-sow it since the seed needs light to fire off germination. Bloom shows up the following year, and heads up, named hybrids will not come true from seed.
Myths
Coral bells will poison dogs and cats.
Forget the worry, because the ASPCA lists coral bells as non-toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Plant them anywhere your pets roam and dig right in.
Coral bells need full shade and will not flower in sun.
Not so, since they thrive in anything from full sun to part shade, and plenty color up and bloom their hardest with some direct light. Afternoon shade wins in hot climates, and any full-sun plant just needs steady moisture to dodge scorched leaves.