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Plant Propagation

How to propagate Heuchera (Coral Bells)

18 years ago

I'm new to this forum.

I just bought a small Heuchera 'Snow Angel' and would like to make more from that plant. What's the most successful way to propagate it?

Paul B.

Featured Answer

User

17 years ago

Heuchera is a slam dunk propagation-wise. My methods:

1) When dividing, take the stem pieces that come off, take off all but a couple of leaves, rooting hormone, 1 gallon pot, compost, ziplock cover, shade.

2) Take the stems, divide with sharp clean razor blade or knife into pieces with 2-3 smallish leaves (or cut off half of the larger leaf), make sure a chunk of stem is attached to the petiole, 500 IBA quickdip or rooting powder, 50:50 peat:perlite, mist

Excellent rooting percentage, near 100% either way.

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Comments (8)

inthegarden_k
17 years ago
i believe that the growth buds are in the main stem, so although you could root a leaf, it will not grow into a complete plant. the usual way to propagate heuchera is through division.
donn_
17 years ago
Making More Plants says Heuchera can be propagated by leaf petiole cuttings.
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Ok, so I was ALL geared up for somewhat of a challenge and thought "Damn it, I'm gonna doctor this baby back to health!" with serious determination. However, after speaking with a plant pathologist at MSU: With a heavy heart... I returned the pretty heuchera back to the GH. According to the pathologist, it was indeed Heuchera Rust caused by Puccinia heucherae. She also stated that it can also infect the following genera: "Elmera, Lithophragma, Mitella, Saxifraga, Tellima, Tiarella, Tolmiea" And since I have a very nice Tiarella 'sugar and spice' really close to where the coral bells were going, I ultimately didn't want to take the chance. She also said that if I wanted to try to treat the sick plant to make sure I got a fungicide that had active ingredient of "triadimefon, or thiophanate-methyl as these are the most effective" (just FYI in case anyone needs the info). And the GH owner was nice. I told her just to credit my account for when my ordered Christmas Fern comes in and she had no problem doing so. Sadly, I went back to look at all the heuchera in the GH and every one of them had the rust. :( So thank you so much to everyone that responded!!! I know... I'm a newb and shouldn't freak out as much, *blush* but so VERY glad you all are here to help me. So now I gotta find another place to get H. 'marmalade' (or 'caramel'). Any suggestions?
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Heucheras need excellent soil drainage and the right exposure to thrive, and are also very prone to getting root weevils attacking the roots and boring up through the center of the stems and killing the plants. You will probably have better luck with the species native to southern California and Arizona if you are planting them in areas with really hot summers. I'd suggest you pull up some of your dying plants and see if you see signs of whitish grubs eating out the centers of the stems. They seem to particularly favor plants in heavy clay soils, or those that are under stress from heat or drought. I know I tend to avoid this plant as a group because it is also problematic with insect attacks here in the SF Bay Area.
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I would return the plant and the spray. I don't think you should have to go through the expense of treating a newly purchased plant. Let someone else buy the sick ones. Now you know to look closely for the most healthy ones. I am not in favor of spraying a 3 in 1 pest/fungal spray unless you have all of those problems. Pest sprays kill good bugs too. Hope you work this out and enjoy your garden!
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I am not sure what does/does'nt come true from seed. I state this on my trade page. The way I see it is if someone wants it I assume they know or have researched it. I figure people should know about the things they want. The amt. you said sounds good. I would discuss it first with your trader and see what they think is fair for what they are sending to you. Hoped this helped. I guess it is more of an opinion than good info! lol.
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gretchenmi
17 years ago
Hello......from Michigan...bought one (Heuchera..Purple Palace)....I love it....when to divide....spring? ....I LOVE THE COLOR.....Thanks .....gert
willameadows
17 years ago
I've had good luck with one I bought recently - Heuchera 'Key Lime Pie' - a gorgeous chartreuse. I loosened the soil away from the crown and pulled off small divisions right at the crown (they didn't have any roots attached) - actually the correct term would be basal cuttings, I guess. Anyway, I trimmed each cutting down to just a couple of the smaller, new leaves. I stuck them just deep enough to stand up in a peat:perlite mix and rooted them under intermittent mist, though you could probably use a plastic cover in the shade - anything to keep them moist. Mine took about 3 weeks to root - I got eleven out of the twelve I stuck. I will plant them out in the garden next spring. The mother plant has now grown back to about the same size it was before I took the cuttings, so am going to do some more.

Heuchera Palace Purple is one that will come true from seed - you might try collecting seed.
marilynnvee_yahoo_com
12 years ago
where would you find the seed on this plant? MariLynn
rockstonegarden
12 years ago
Heuchera should be devided frequently, or not at all. If left for 3 years, the main stem can become woody, making division much more dificult and success less likely. If you divide them every spring, you will have the most success. IMHO.
oliveoyl3
12 years ago
In spring cut off the tall stalk that shoots up & replant in soft soil, keep moist, & sprouts into it's own plant. As long as it has some stem & the pink shoots showing new sprouting leaves it works. Did this first with Palace Purple then with Firefly. Next spring I'll do it with Caramel.

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