2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Heykherella (lat. * Heucherella) - long-term decorative culture; a hybrid genus of the family Saxifrage, obtained by crossing Heuchera (Latin Heuchera) and Tiarella (Latin Tiarella). Representatives of the genus are actively used in ornamental gardening. The first hybrid was obtained by the famous botanist Emile Lemoine back in 1912. True, the hybrid received its recognition only in 1991, having received the Diploma of Garden Achievement.
Characteristics of culture
Heycherella is a man-made hybrid, in the form of foliage and size, the plant is close to its progenitor tiarella, and in shades of flowers - to Heuchera. Like Heuchera, the hybrid in question forms a beautiful and compact spherical rosette of leaves. The leaves are deep-lobed, often patterned, depending on the species, they can be yellow, bronze, silvery or green in color.
Due to the variety of shades of foliage, Heycherella is able to decorate any (not even the most attractive) corner of the garden; with its beauty it will delight its owners from early spring to late autumn. Geycherels can be pink-flowered and white-flowered, in the second type the leaves are more dissected. The flowers of the hybrid are pubescent, collected in paniculate inflorescences. Flowering takes place from July to August - September. By the way, in the autumn period, the culture is no less decorative, its foliage acquires bright shades.
All obtained species and varieties prefer well aerated, neutral, moderately moist, fertile soils and mosaic shade. Protection from cold winds is welcome. Geyherella is suitable for cultivation in cold regions, but young plants and some varieties need shelter for the winter.
It is important to remember that heycherella is absolutely sterile, therefore it reproduces only in a vegetative way, that is, by cuttings and dividing the bush. As in the case of Heuchera, the hybrid must be divided every 3-4 years, otherwise the bushes will look neglected and unattractive.
Today, there are several varieties of Heycherella on the market, which are popular among gardeners. They differ in the color of their foliage and flowers.
The most actively used of them:
* Bridget Bloom - the variety is represented by plants with green leaves and coral-pink flowers with a peduncle reaching a height of 40-45 cm.
* Rosalie - the variety is represented by plants with yellowish-green foliage, which acquires a darker shade by autumn, and coral-pink flowers with peduncles up to 45 cm high.
* Quick Silver - the variety is represented by plants with brown foliage with a grayish-ash bloom and silvery-white flowers with a peduncle up to 60 cm long.
Also, in terms of external characteristics, the Red stone Falls variety is attractive - this is a new variety, it has a brown-orange foliage; Solar Power - a variety represented by plants with yellow foliage, on which blurry brownish specks flaunt; Sunrise Falls - with crisp brown foliage. The following varieties are no less interesting: Alabama Sunrise, Pink Frost, White Blush, Birthday Cake, Crimson Clouds, Dayglow Pink, Golden Zebra, Happy Trail, Heart of Darkness, Kimono, Party Time, Silver Streak, Snow White, Stoplight, Sunspot, Tapes and etc.
The subtleties of growing
As already mentioned, geyherella puts forward special requirements for growing conditions. We are talking about neutral, water-intensive, loamy soils and sunny or semi-shaded location. Too porous or, on the contrary, too heavy soils are not suitable for the culture, on them the plants feel defective, often get sick, and sometimes even die. Growing in porous soils is possible, but in this case it is very important to provide shade, especially at noon. This situation will not affect the growth and shade of flowers and leaves in any way.
Culture care
Actually, the care is the same as for Heuchera and Tiarella. True, top dressing is required more often, more precisely twice a year - in the spring and after flowering (at this moment, the plant starts laying buds of renewal). Complex mineral fertilizers are applied at the rate of 15-20 g per 1 sq. m. Watering is carried out as needed, avoiding waterlogging, otherwise the roots will begin to rot, and the plants will take on a painful appearance, and then completely die. For the winter, the plants need to be properly insulated by mulching and hilling. In the spring, the mulch is removed, and the bushes are spud. Hilling is the most important care procedure, as heycherella becomes exposed over time, revealing the lower part of the rhizome.
