Heuchera villosa 'Bronze Wave'

Sizes available: 2 quart

Basics: zones 4-8, 18" x 18", part sun to part shade, wands of tiny pinkish-tan flowers in late summer to early fall, shiny, maple-shaped purply bronze leaves with intermingled green and reddish tones, drought tolerant once established

Common names: Hairy Alum Root, Coral Bells, 'Bronze Wave' is a cultivar of the species.

Family: Saxifragceae

Origin/Distribution: This cultivar was introduced by Charles Oliver of the Primrose Path. The species is native from Virginia to Indiana south to Alabama and Arkansas.

Habitat: well-drained, rocky wooded slopes, shady ledges and cliffs, open woods, wood's edge

More: A beautiful leaf texture, shape, and color for the front of a shady border. Heucheras are shallow-rooted and have a tendency to heave themselves out of the ground in the winter. Mulching lightly after the ground freezes will help prevent this. However, they are tough and easily repositioned come spring. Heuchera flowers and leaves are lovely in small posies. Heucheras can grow well in full sun given adequate moisture. Their leaf coloration responds to different light levels as well as temperature levels. Some leaves also have good fall color. The entire genus is native to North America except one species (H. sichotensis from far east Russia), however, Heucheras are not native to Maine.

Nursery: Honey Petal Plants

Image credits: Van Berkum Nursery