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California Gardening

Thinking of planting Heuchera

14 years ago

I live in San Jose (USDA zone 9) and was thinking of planting some Heuchera plants (particularly the "Peach Melba" variety). I want to plant them in a shady portion of my backyard under a fairly big tree. This area gets little light... It seems like people recommend Heuchera for shade but I often see it listed as "sun to part shade". Do you think it will grow well if it's in pretty much full shade?

(As a secondary question, would now -- early August -- be too late to plant things? Or should I hold off until... well, sometime later? I'm a "first time" planter so I don't know if it's okay to plant things now, or if I should wait until next spring, etc.)

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Comments (4)

gobluedjm 9/18 CA
14 years ago
Summer planting is not a good time wait at least until late Sept or Oct depending on hot it is.
As for the Heuchera, I can't answer that as even in shade here it fries.
Pick up a Western Garden Book, lots of general great advice.
hosenemesis
14 years ago
You're in luck! We usually plant in October in Southern California (on the off chance we get some rain). Especially perennials- they do best started in the fall.

I have not had good results with the Heuchera in full shade. I can grow it in dappled shade, but not in a north-facing shaded bed, for instance. It will also grow in the sun, but gets scorched June-August. I have also found it to be less drought-tolerant than I expected.
Renee
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Depends upon the intensity of the sun and moisture content of the soil here. I can't let heucheras have more than morning sun or they will toast. I don't grow hostas due to deer and lack of shade in my fenced area -- that is changing as my garden is maturing and I should have enough shade in another year (built from scratch in 2005). In high shade beneath a crepe myrtle, I grow lambs ear, sedum, lavender, dusty miller, heuchera, salvia greggii, marigolds. Cameron
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dazlr, I suggest looking up what will grow in your zone. Although Herculeras are sold as hardy zone 4- 9 it really is not true. I remember running out all excited at all the pretty leaves and after winter or a rainy summer I was looking at dead coral bells I have learned to read up on what has been developed and who developed them. Which Coral Bells will survive my environment. I have had trouble growing anything that was developed by TN. Some developers are rushing them to the market and they were not tested in enough region/zone gardens for viability. Wonderful if you do not have a harsh winter environment but at the price of these plants it is not the most pleasant experience when spring arrives and you are looking a dead coral bells. Just be careful what you fall in love with and check the boards of what people have had survive in their gardens in your zone.
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I am in Michigan in zone 5B. I have always liked Heucheras and have had them scattered in my flower beds for years. I am working on a new spot that I can see from the house and would really like to transplant my Heucheras into that spot, so there is a intense showing of them. The area is 5' by 12', I'm guessing, on a slight incline and on the edge of some trees. I have about a dozen different colors (purple, orange, green and marbled) and didn't know if someone had a suggestion of placement, color wise, so that I don't have to think too hard about it. I guess it'll be a shot in the dark as long as they compliment each other. I am going to have a solid green hosta behind the Heucheras and the other half of the planting area is going to have a bleeding heart (that my daughter gave to me about 16 years ago) with raspberry splash lungwort, jack frost brunnera and a lady's mantle. Love to see some pictures of similar areas you have done. Thanks for any ideas you might have.
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surfcityhb
14 years ago
I like heuchera, and the way the hummers like them (in the spring), but for patio areas or other areas where people gather or pass by, I'm not a big fan of their dormant appearance. They seem to be short-lived. You might want to consider waiting to plant until it cools off.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
Heuchera is a wonderful plant in the right location, which for most locations is partial shade. The attraction is in the foliage which is available in a number of colors and textures. More and more of my garden is devoted to colorful foliage over the color of blooms which only last for a few weeks. Heuchera planted the right distance apart make a lovely ground cover of varied colors. I also do not find them particularly drought tolerant. Al

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