Heuchera Primo® 'Wild Rose'

Heuchera Primo® 'Wild Rose': Big Rosy Leaves Drawn in Charcoal

Rosy-purple leaves with charcoal veins, like somebody spilled rosé on a road map and called it art. 'Wild Rose' shrugs off deer, shrugs off road salt and glows in the shade. THE PARTY GUEST WHO NEVER NEEDS A RIDE HOME.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Heuchera hybrid
• Common Name: Coral Bells
• Series: Primo®, a Proven Winners® perennial
• Height: 20–25 cm (8–10 in) in leaf; flower stems reach 46–56 cm (18–22 in)
• Spread: 46–51 cm (18–20 in)
• Flowers: Rosy pink bells opening from dark buds on upright, dark burgundy stems
• Bloom Time: Midsummer (July to August)
• Foliage: Large, bright rosy-purple leaves with deep charcoal-grey veins
• Features: Salt tolerant
• Plant Patent: USPP 29,923 / Can 5,990

Where to Plant: Its extra-large leaves make it a bold focal point at the front of a shady border or the star of a container, and afternoon shade keeps the colour at its best. It tolerates salt, which helps near sidewalks, and it generally copes with black walnut.

Companion Plants: Behind it, Astilbe 'Amethyst' sends up purple plumes to about a metre in June and July. Hakonechloa macra adds a soft, arching grass texture at 30 to 45 cm, a fine contrast to the broad heuchera leaves. Phlox divaricata carries lavender flowers in April and May, so the bed opens well before summer. All three are happy in shade to partial sun, which suits a woodland edge.

Plant Care: Plant in humus-rich, well-drained soil with the crown at soil level. Part shade, ideally with afternoon shade, gives the strongest growth and colour. Deep shade slows it down. Water through the first season and in dry spells. Wet winter clay is the main thing to avoid, so add compost if your soil is heavy. A light winter mulch after freeze-up helps prevent frost heaving. Trim winter-worn leaves in early spring and cut spent flower stems after bloom. Divide in spring every few years when the crown becomes woody.

History: 'Wild Rose' comes from Walters Gardens of Zeeland, Michigan, which introduces it through Proven Winners® in the Primo® line, developed for heucheras with especially large leaves. The common name coral bells comes from Heuchera sanguinea, a red-flowered species native to the American southwest and northern Mexico.

Final Thoughts: Plant it by the driveway where the plow dumps its worst, and the hummingbirds will still show up. SALT? NEVER HEARD OF HER.