Heuchera Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown'

Heuchera Dressed Up® 'Evening Gown': Glossy Black Ruffles, Dressed for Shade

'Evening Gown' is dressed for the gala while everyone else is in sweatpants. Big, glossy, purple-black leaves with heavily ruffled hems. RED CARPET? IT BROUGHT ITS OWN.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Heuchera hybrid
• Common Name: Coral Bells
• Series: Dressed Up®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 30–36 cm (12–14 in) in leaf; flower stems reach 46–51 cm (18–20 in)
• Spread: 50–60 cm (20–24 in)
• Flowers: Small white bells with pink buds and pink backs, on upright, branched stems
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Large, glossy, deep purple-black leaves with heavily ruffled edges
• Features: Salt tolerant
• Plant Patent: USPP 34,288

Where to Plant: Use it at the front of a shady border, along a woodland path, or as the dark centre of a container, where its black leaves make bright neighbours look brighter. It is salt tolerant, which helps in beds near a salted walkway, and 4 to 6 hours of sun gives the best colour.

Companion Plants: Astilboides tabularis brings huge leaves and cream flowers in June and July, a bold backdrop for the dark coral bells. Astilbe 'Amethyst' adds purple plumes in June and July on 90 to 100 cm stems. Tricyrtis hirta brings white, spotted flowers in August and September. This is a layered planting for shade and part shade.

Plant Care: Plant it with the crown level with the soil in moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Heavy, soggy clay is the main thing to avoid, especially in winter. Water regularly through the first season and during dry spells. In early spring, trim off any leaves that look tattered from winter. Cut spent flower stems back to the foliage to keep the mound tidy. New plants can be pushed up by frost in their first winter, so mulch lightly and press any heaved crowns back down in spring. Divide every three or four years when the centre gets woody.

History: Hans Hansen bred 'Evening Gown' at Walters Gardens in Zeeland, Michigan, from a cross with the black-leaved 'Black Pearl', and it received its U.S. plant patent in 2022. It was named a 2021 Top Performer in the Mississippi State University perennial trials at Crystal Springs.

Final Thoughts: Give it a few hours of sun for the deepest colour and a front-row seat. Deer and salt don't faze it. BLACK TIE, ALWAYS.