Cool New Heucheras

Every spring our gardening juices are kicked into gear by fresh, new heucheras - those frilly foliage perennials that come in so many tempting colors. Oregon breeder Terra Nova Nursery has been hard at work producing an array of new heucheras that will fill nursery tables in the coming months. Which ones are garden-worthy, and which are just eye-candy? Only time and trial will tell. A few years ago I fell in love with the new amber colored heucheras, and after trying them all out, I've found that 'Caramel' and 'Marmalade' are sturdy workhorse plants that are truly evergreen, as well as sun and disease-resistant. I've had good luck with 'Peach Flambe' and the new very dark chocolate 'Obsidian' as well. Who knows with this current crop which ones will persist through the winters and not just melt away?....they're all so beautiful it'll be fun finding out. Here are just a few glamorous heuchera, just out on the market, to whet your appetite for spring. All are ideal to grow in pots or to trim out garden beds. 

Photos courtesy of Terra Nova Nursery:

 

Heuchera 'Berry Smoothie' isn't my favorite color, but I admit the bright rose pink on such big, bold leaves is impressive. It's billed as holding its vivid color year round, heat-loving and cold-tolerant.

 Heuchera 'Electra' is a shocker, with bright golden leaves veined in red. The veins stay red through the season, while the leaves come on yellow in spring, morph to chartreuse in summer and fall, then tan over the winter.

LIme Marmalade' is a vigorous, frilly new heuchera with a similar habit to its close relative  Heuchera 'Marmalade'. Its leaves are larger than the popular 'Lime Rickey' - and if they hold that lively color all season this one is sure to be popular. 

Comments

[Tracy Mehlin]

I have a love hate relationship with heucheras. I love the foliage, but hate cutting back the flowers, which inevitably flop into the pathway. I think my next approach will be to stop edging my pathways with heucheras! Bees do love the nectar producing flowers, after all.

p.s. I linked to your blog from the "PNW Connections" page
~Tracy