Several Reasons For The Popularity Of Heuchera. Start

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

At all times, heuchera plants have attracted the attention of people. The first mention of it dates back to the middle of the 17th century. In recent years, it has experienced a new peak in its popularity. What is the reason for the attractiveness of this unusual flower?

Heuchera got its name from the name of a German botanist, professor of medicine. Since ancient times, wild specimens have been used by the population for medicinal purposes. Crushed rhizomes healed wounds and ulcers. The broth helped with indigestion, fever. The leaves were used in cooking.

Currently, this plant occupies a leading position in flower beds.

Among the reasons for the popularity of Heuchera, it should be noted:

1. Minimum care requirements.

2. Fast and easy reproduction.

3. Decorativeness all season.

4. Drawing up unusual compositions in the flower garden.

5. A variety of varieties and shapes with incredible colors.

Let's analyze each item in more detail.

Minimal care

The best place for a geychera light partial shade. In too bright sun, the leaves often burn, look slightly wilted. Only varieties with yellow and cream-colored bushes are light-loving. Green-leaved specimens withstand thick shade. At the same time, they rarely bloom, the pattern on the leaf blade is weak.

The superficial fibrous root system prefers moisture-absorbing, loose soil. Does not tolerate prolonged stagnation of water and the proximity of groundwater. In this case, drainage is laid on the site. Heavy soil is loosened with peat, sand in equal proportions. The reaction is preferable neutral or slightly alkaline. The acidity is reduced by adding a small amount of dolomite flour or wood ash.

You should not apply fatty organic fertilizers - manure, chicken droppings. In the wild, Heuchera grows well on poor soils. The introduction of additional elements in excess of the norm degrades the decorative qualities. Moderate watering during dry periods contributes to a good increase in the splendor of the bushes. After the end of flowering, the stems are pruned so as not to deplete the plants during the formation of seeds.

Varieties with light foliage for the winter require an obligatory light cover with spruce branches, a small layer of dried leaves, except for oak and willow. The base is insulated with moss. The rest of the brightly colored hybrids do not require shelter in Central Russia.

The plant is evergreen, therefore, when coming out from under the snow, spring burns on young foliage are possible. To prevent them, heuchera is temporarily covered with pieces of nonwoven material through small arcs.

Often, after winter, the bushes bulge out of the ground. Therefore, the base must be constantly spud, not allowing the roots to bare.

Decorativeness

Ornamental Heuchera leaves attract attention throughout the season. With the onset of cold weather, they become even more elegant. They are not afraid of night frosts. Plants hibernate together with foliage.

Lush numerous panicles with small bells create an openwork design. They rise above the base, reaching a height of 60 cm. Peduncles are so strong that they do not require a garter. Colors in modern varieties range from cream to bright red, with all intermediate tones.

Composing compositions

When choosing a place for a geyher, their preferences and the color of the bushes are taken into account. Plants go well with daylilies, ornamental cereals, hosts.

Varieties with dark leaves look great with yellow-leaved hosta varieties, dicentra, golden cuff. Look at the photo, how the bright spot of heuchera was originally inscribed among the greenish-yellow bushes of medium-sized hosta in the composition.

Thanks to the non-disappearing vegetative part, in early spring it is an excellent background for brightly blooming primroses, irises, hyacinths, crocuses.

A properly selected collection of different varieties of Heuchera looks good in uniform plantings.

We will consider the rest of the reasons for the popularity of Heuchera in the next article.