''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

. Common names include alumroot and coral bells.

Description

''Heuchera'' have

palmate The following is a list of terms which are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (a single leaf blade or lamina) or compound (with several leaflets). The edge of the leaf may be regular o ...

ly lobed leaves on long petioles, and a thick, woody rootstock. The genus was named after

Johann Heinrich von Heucher Johann Heinrich von Heucher (Johann Heinrich Heucher before his ennoblement; 1 January 1677 – 23 February 1747) was a German physician and botanist. Biography Born in Vienna, his family moved to Wittenberg when he was twelve. He studied philos ...

(1677–1746), an 18th-century

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

physician,''Heuchera''.
Flora of North America. and Professor at Wittenberg University. There are approximately 37 species, but the taxonomy of the genus is difficult because the species often intergrade with one another,

hybridization Hybridization (or hybridisation) may refer to: *Hybridization (biology), the process of combining different varieties of organisms to create a hybrid *Orbital hybridization, in chemistry, the mixing of atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals *Nu ...

is common, and the flowers change markedly in proportion as they develop.

Distribution and habitat

Alumroot species grow in varied habitats, so some species look quite different from one another, and have varying preferences regarding temperature, soil, and other natural factors. ''H. maxima'' is found on the Channel Islands of California, where it grows on rocky, windy, saline-washed ocean shores, and ''H. sanguinea'', called coral bells because of its cerise flowers, can be found in the warm, dry canyons of Mexico and adjacent New Mexico and Arizona. In the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, the plants grow best in shade. Several alumroots and their crosses are used as ornamental plants.

Uses

Native American peoples The Indigenous peoples of the Americas are the inhabitants of the Americas before the arrival of the European settlers in the 15th century, and the ethnic groups who now identify themselves with those peoples. Many Indigenous peoples of the Am ...

used some ''Heuchera'' species medicinally. The Tlingit used ''H. glabra'' as an herbal remedy for inflammation of the testicles caused by

syphilis Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms of syphilis vary depending in which of the four stages it presents (primary, secondary, latent, an ...

.''Heuchera glabra''.
Flora of North America. To the

Navajo The Navajo (; British English: Navaho; nv, Diné or ') are a Native American people of the Southwestern United States. With more than 399,494 enrolled tribal members , the Navajo Nation is the largest federally recognized tribe in the United ...

, ''H. novamexicana'' was a panacea and a pain reliever.'' Heuchera novamexicana''.
Flora of North America. The roots of ''H. cylindrica'' had a variety of medicinal uses among the

Blackfoot The Blackfoot Confederacy, ''Niitsitapi'' or ''Siksikaitsitapi'' (ᖹᐟᒧᐧᒣᑯ, meaning "the people" or " Blackfoot-speaking real people"), is a historic collective name for linguistically related groups that make up the Blackfoot or Bla ...

, Flathead, Kutenai, Okanagan, Colville, and Shuswap.''Heuchera cylindrica''.
Flora of North America.

Cultivation

The majority of ''Heuchera'' sold for gardens are hybrids of '' H. americana'', such as 'Green Spice'. The original 'Purple Palace' discovered in a

palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

in England is believed to be a ''H. micrantha'' × ''H. villosa'' hybrid,Cullina, W
''New England Wild Flower Society Guide to Growing and Propagating Wildflowers of the United States and Canada''.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2000. , which was then crossed with ''H. americana''. Another group of hybrids are crosses of ''Heuchera'' with ''

Tiarella ''Tiarella'', the foamflowers, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Saxifragaceae. The generic name ''Tiarella'' means "little turban", which suggests the shape of the seed capsules. Worldwide there are seven species, one each in eastern ...

'' treated under the name × ''Heucherella''. Gardeners and horticulturists have developed a multitude of hybrids between various ''Heuchera'' species. There is an extensive array of blossom sizes, shapes, and colors, foliage types, and geographic tolerances. They are valued as foliage plants, producing rosettes of leaves in shades of green, pink and bronze, often variegated or textured; with long thyrses of white, green, pink or red flowers in spring. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

:- * 'Blackberry Jam' * 'Can-Can' * 'Green Spice' * 'Lime Marmalade' * 'Magic Wand' * 'Marmalade' * 'Obsidian' * 'Purple Petticoats' * 'Regina' * 'Sashay' * 'Walnut' (Fox series)

Selected species

Species include:''Heuchera'': List of Species.
Flora of North America.''Heuchera''.
USDA PLANTS.GRIN Species Records of ''Heuchera''.
Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). * ''

Heuchera abramsii ''Heuchera abramsii'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common names San Gabriel alumroot and Abrams' alumroot. It is endemic to the San Gabriel Mountains of southern California, where it grows on rocky sl ...

'' - San Gabriel alumroot * ''

Heuchera acutifolia ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' R. A. Folk & J. V. Freudenstein (2014
Revision of ''Heuchera'' Section ''Rhodoheuchera'' Subsections ''Hemsleyanae'' and ''Rosendahliae'' Subsectio Nova (Saxifragaceae)
''Systematic Botany'' 39(3): 850-874. * ''

Heuchera alba ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' - white alumroot * ''

Heuchera americana ''Heuchera americana'', or American alumroot (also called Coral bells or Rock geranium), is a small (under 2 ft. high and wide) evergreen perennial native to eastern and central North America in the Saxifrage family. Characteristics Ameri ...

'' - American alumroot * ''

Heuchera bracteata ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' - Rocky Mountain alumroot * ''

Heuchera brevistaminea ''Heuchera brevistaminea'' is a rare species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name Laguna Mountains alumroot. It is endemic to the Laguna Mountains of San Diego County, California. It grows in rock crevices and st ...

'' - Laguna Mountain alumroot * '' Heuchera caespitosa'' - tufted alumroot * ''

Heuchera caroliniana ''Heuchera caroliniana'', the Carolina alumroot, is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae, native to the US states of Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Split off from ''Heuchera americana ''Heuchera americana'', ...

'' - Carolina alumroot * ''

Heuchera chlorantha ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petio ...

'' - green-flowered alumroot * ''

Heuchera cylindrica ''Heuchera cylindrica'' is a species of perennial flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common names poker alumroot, roundleaf alumroot, and coral bells. It is native to western North America, where it is found from British Columb ...

'' - roundleaf alumroot, lava alumroot * ''

Heuchera eastwoodiae ''Heuchera eastwoodiae'' is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family, Saxifragaceae. It is endemic to Arizona in the United States, where it is found in Gila, Maricopa and Yavapai Counties. It is known by the common names Senator M ...

'' - Senator Mine alumroot * ''

Heuchera elegans ''Heuchera elegans'' is a species of flowering plant in the Saxifragaceae, saxifrage family known by the common name urn-flowered alumroot. It is Endemism, endemic to the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California, where it grows on the rocky ...

'' - urnflower alumroot * ''

Heuchera glabra ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' - alpine alumroot *''

Heuchera glomerulata ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' - Chiricahua Mountain alumroot * ''

Heuchera grossulariifolia ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' - gooseberryleaf alumroot * ''

Heuchera hallii ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' - Front Range alumroot * ''

Heuchera hirsutissima ''Heuchera hirsutissima'' is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name shaggy-haired alumroot. Distribution The perennial is endemic to the San Jacinto Mountains of Riverside County, California, where it grows ...

'' - shaggy-haired alumroot * ''

Heuchera inconstans ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

''R. A. Folk & P. J. Alexander (2015
Two New Species, ''Heuchera soltisii'' and ''H. inconstans'', with Further Taxonomic Notes for the Western Group of ''Heuchera'' Section ''Heuchera'' (Saxifragaceae)
''Systematic Botany'' 40(2):489-500. * ''

Heuchera lakelae ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long Petiole ...

'' R. Folk (2013
''Heuchera lakelae'' (Saxifragaceae), a new species from the Sierra La Marta and Sierra Coahuilón, Coahuila and Nuevo León, Mexico
''Phytotaxa'' 124: 37-42. * ''

Heuchera longiflora ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petio ...

'' - longflower alumroot * ''

Heuchera longipetala ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petio ...

'' * '' Heuchera maxima'' - island alumroot, jill-of-the-rocks * ''

Heuchera merriamii ''Heuchera merriamii'' is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name Merriam's alumroot. It is native to the Klamath Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California, where it grows on the rocky slopes. Th ...

'' - Merriam's alumroot * ''

Heuchera mexicana ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petio ...

'' * ''

Heuchera micrantha ''Heuchera micrantha'' is a species of flowering plant in the saxifrage family known by the common name crevice alumroot, or small-flowered alumroot. Distribution It is native to western North America from British Columbia to California, where i ...

'' - crevice alumroot, smallflower alumroot * ''

Heuchera missouriensis ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

''R.A. Folk and J.V. Freudenstein. 2015
* ''Heuchera novomexicana">"Sky islands" in the eastern U.S.A.? – Strong phylogenetic structure in the ''Heuchera parviflora'' group (Saxifragaceae). Taxon 64: 254– 271. * ''Heuchera novomexicana
'' - New Mexico alumroot, range alumroot * ''Heuchera parishii'' - Mill Creek alumroot * ''Heuchera parviflora'' - littleflower alumroot * ''Heuchera parvifolia'' - littleleaf alumroot, common alumroot * ''Heuchera pilosissima'' - seaside alumroot * ''

Heuchera puberula ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' * ''

Heuchera pubescens ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petio ...

'' - downy alumroot * ''

Heuchera pulchella ''Heuchera pulchella'', the Sandia Mountain alumroot or Sandia Mountain coral-bells, is a plant species endemic to central New Mexico, mostly in the Manzano Mountains, Manzano and Sandia Mountains, but cultivated as an ornamental elsewhere. It g ...

'' - Sandia Mountain alumroot * ''

Heuchera richardsonii ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiol ...

'' - Richardson's alumroot * ''

Heuchera rosendahlii ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' * ''

Heuchera rubescens ''Heuchera rubescens'', with the common name pink alumroot, is a species of ''Heuchera''. The small perennial plant is native to the Western United States and northern Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States ...

'' - pink alumroot, red alumroot, jack-o'the-rocks * ''

Heuchera sanguinea ''Heuchera sanguinea'', called coral bells, is a species of flowering plant in the genus ''Heuchera ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names i ...

'' - coral bells * ''

Heuchera soltisii ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long Petiole ...

'' * ''

Heuchera villosa ''Heuchera villosa'', the hairy alumroot, is a small evergreen perennial native to the Eastern United States. It is found only on rock outcrops, growing on cliffs and boulders. ''Heuchera villosa'' is sometimes grown ornamentally, with some cult ...

'' - hairy alumroot, maple-leaved alumroot * ''

Heuchera wellsiae ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' * ''

Heuchera woodsiaphila ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' P. J. Alexander (2008
''Heuchera woodsiaphila'' (Saxifragaceae), a new species from the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico
''Journal of the Botanical Research Institute of Texas'' 2(1): 447-453. * ''

Heuchera wootonii ''Heuchera'' ( or ) is a genus of largely evergreen perennial plants in the family Saxifragaceae, all native to North America. Common names include alumroot and coral bells. Description ''Heuchera'' have palmately lobed leaves on long petiole ...

'' - White Mountain alumroot Hybrids include: *''Heuchera'' × ''brizoides''

Gallery

File:Heuchera micrantha 1586.JPG, ''H. micrantha'' var. ''diversifolia'' Image:Heuchera 1.jpg, ''Heuchera'' × ''brizoides'' File:Heuchera americana Green spice.jpg, ''H. americana'' 'Green Spice' Image:Heuchera Starry Night garden show.jpg, ''Heuchera'' 'Starry Night' File:06 23 2021 CarexHeuchera.jpg, Obsidian Heuchera

References

External links

*
Jepson Manual: Genus ''Heuchera''
{{Taxonbar, from=Q972663 Saxifragaceae genera Flora of North America