Heucherella 'Red Rover'

Heucherella 'Red Rover': Warm Tones with a Wanderer's Spirit

Earthy and exuberant, Heucherella 'Red Rover' spreads gently across the shade garden with glowing red-bronze foliage that deepens in tone as the season cools. Its deeply lobed, maple-like leaves emerge in a soft copper-red and age to rich mahogany, lending warmth and movement to layered plantings. In late spring, delicate white flowers rise on slender stems, hovering above the foliage and drawing in early pollinators. With a slight trailing habit, this heucherella brings softness and fluidity to containers and ground-level plantings alike.

Plant Characteristics:

• Height: 20–25 cm (30–35 cm in bloom)
• Spread: 40–60 cm, with a gently spreading habit
• Flower Colour: White
• Flowering Period: Late spring to early summer
• Foliage: Maple-like leaves in copper-red to mahogany; softly lobed with seasonal colour shifts
• Sunlight Requirements: Part shade to full shade; tolerates morning sun
• Soil Requirements: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil

Uses and Benefits: Heucherella 'Red Rover' brings colour continuity and a spreading softness to woodland borders, shady slopes, and containers. Its rich foliage tones harmonize easily with greens, blues, and golds, making it a versatile backdrop or subtle focal point. Low-growing and deer-resistant, it’s also a valuable pollinator plant, offering nectar early in the season. With a gentle trailing habit, it adds movement and flow to the shaded garden floor.

Companion Plants: Let Heucherella 'Red Rover' meander among the bright, fine-bladed foliage of Carex 'Bowles Golden', which adds soft contrast and light. Pair it with Hosta 'June' to complement the warm undertones with cool variegated leaves. Introduce the airy texture of Athyrium 'Lady in Red' for a graceful vertical note and echoed red accents.

Care Instructions: Plant in part to full shade with moist, well-drained soil. Provide regular water during dry periods, especially in containers. Trim back old foliage in early spring to make way for new growth. Divide every 3–4 years to maintain spread and vigour.

History: Heucherella 'Red Rover' is a Proven Winners® introduction from the *Fun and Games®* series, developed for its strong trailing habit, seasonal colour shifts, and refined leaf shape. As a cross between Heuchera and Tiarella, it merges durability with decorative appeal, offering a vibrant, spreading presence ideal for modern shade gardens.

Final Thoughts: Welcoming and warm, Heucherella 'Red Rover' adds a sense of movement and colour harmony to shaded settings. It’s a gentle spreader with a rich palette, ideal for weaving through mixed plantings and softening garden edges with understated charm.