Heuchera FOREVER® Red

Heuchera FOREVER® Red: Seriously Red Leaves for Shady Edges

This one is short, glossy and about as subtle as a stop sign. Lightly ruffled leaves in red to burgundy, brightest in spring and fall, on a compact little mound. STOP. LOOK. BUY.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Heuchera hybrid ('TNHEUFR')
• Common Name: Coral Bells
• Series: FOREVER®, from Terra Nova Nurseries
• Height: 15–20 cm (6–8 in) in leaf; flower stems to about 35 cm (14 in)
• Spread: 30–35 cm (12–14 in)
• Flowers: Small white bells opening from pink buds, on short spikes
• Bloom Time: Mid to late summer (July to August)
• Foliage: Glossy, lightly ruffled, red to burgundy, brightest in spring and fall
• Features: Compact
• Plant Patent: USPP 29,644

Where to Plant: Its small size makes it ideal for the front edge of a shady bed, between stepping stones, in a rock garden pocket, or in a window box or mixed pot. The red reads best against green, gold and silver foliage.

Companion Plants: Brunnera 'Jack of Diamonds' adds blue spring flowers in April and May, well before the coral bells bloom. Tricyrtis 'Autumn Glow' brings purple flowers in August and September at 60 to 66 cm. Hakonechloa macra adds a soft, flowing grass at 30 to 45 cm, a fine texture beside the heuchera's broad leaves. This trio suits shade and part shade.

Plant Care: Plant in moist, well-drained soil with plenty of compost, keeping the crown at soil level. Wet clay in winter is its biggest enemy, so improve drainage first. Water regularly in the first season and during dry spells. Snip off spent flower stems at the base. Trim winter-worn leaves in early spring. A light mulch in fall helps keep frost from heaving young crowns. Divide every three or four years to keep the clump vigorous.

History: FOREVER® Red was bred by Janet Egger at Terra Nova Nurseries in Oregon from a controlled cross between two of the nursery's own seedlings, aimed at a hardy red-leaved heuchera with plenty of crowns. It received its U.S. plant patent under the cultivar name 'TNHEUFR' in 2018.

Final Thoughts: Tuck it at the front of a shady bed and let the bees and hummingbirds make a pit stop. The deer won't. FULL STOP.