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Common Name: coral bells
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Saxifragaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Height: 0.75 to 1.5 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: June to July
Bloom Description: White
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Leaves: Colorful
Culture
Best grown in organically rich, humusy, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Performs well in full sun in the north, but prefers some shade (particularly in the heat of the afternoon) in the south. In the St. Louis area, best foliage color may occur in sunny spots with part afternoon shade. Scorch and general foliage decline usually occur if soils are allowed to dry out. If grown in full sun, consistent moisture is particularly important. Remove stems of faded flowers to encourage additional bloom. Some gardeners prefer to remove flower stems before flowering if plants are being grown as ground covers for their foliage texture and color. Foliage is essentially evergreen in warm winter climates, but the amount (if any) of retained foliage color in cold winter climates such as St. Louis depends in large part upon the severity of the temperatures. A winter compost mulch applied after the ground freezes will help prevent root heaving. Divide clumps in spring every 3-4 years.
Noteworthy Characteristics
‘Lime Rickey’ is a vigorous, clump-forming coral bells cultivar that is most noted for its ruffled lime green foliage and white flowers. It is the result of a cross between Heuchera ‘Amber Waves’ (seed parent) and Heuchera ‘Huntsman’ (pollen parent). Lobed, rounded leaves with ruffled edges form a basal mound (to 8” tall) which may spread to 18” wide. Leaves emerge chartreuse in spring, but mature to lime green in summer. Tiny, white flowers appear in spires in late spring to early summer on slender stems rising above the foliage mound, typically to 18” tall. U. S. Plant Patent PP16,210 issued January 24, 2006.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Frost heaving of roots may occur when winter temperatures fluctuate widely. Reportedly has good resistance to powdery mildew.
Garden Uses
Mass as a ground cover or group. Rock gardens, borders and open woodland gardens. Effective as an edger along paths or walkways. Containers.