Evergreen purple bells enchant us with beautiful flower colors and pretty leaves that shimmer in wonderful color nuances. The immigrants from the mountains of North America and Mexico are very hardy, so that they adorn the garden as lavish perennials with their beautiful flowers for many years. The following answers to frequently asked questions will familiarize you with proper cultivation.

The different types of purple bells have one thing in common: fascinating foliage

Plant purple bells correctly

Careful soil preparation in a semi-shady location sets the course for a long perennial life. Loosen the humic, nutrient-rich soil deeply to enrich it with compost, horn shavings (€32.93) and rock flour.(€14.13) If in doubt, improve the permeability with sand, perlite (€37.51) or fine Grit, because purple bells have no chance of surviving in waterlogged conditions. Please place the potted young plants a little deeper, as the root balls often push upwards. Before you mulch with leaves or grass clippings, water with normal tap water.

care tips

Your purple bells pull out all the floral stops when they are given this care:

  • Water moderately in dry conditions without soaking the soil
  • Top up rootstocks that are sticking out of the ground with compost
  • Beet perennials in March/April and June/July fertilize with compost, horn shavings and rock dust
  • Fertilize in pots every 4 weeks from May to September
  • Regularly trim wilted flower stalks
  • Cut back in autumn just above the evergreen ornamental foliage
  • Cut back close to the ground in late winter, in good time before new sprouting

Modern Heuchera varieties have a robust winter hardiness. Only in exposed locations do we recommend protection in the form of leaves, needle brushwood or compost. Planters are not put away, but are given a winter coat made of jute, fleece or foil and a warm base made of wood or styrofoam.
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Which location is suitable?

Within the exuberant spectrum of magnificent types and varieties, the right purple bell can be found for every design wish. Although the perennials differ in terms of growth height, flower and foliage color, they conform to the ideal site conditions. We have compiled all relevant criteria for you here:

  • Sunny to semi-shady position
  • Fresh, well-drained and sandy-loamy soil
  • A neutral to alkaline pH of 7.0 to 8.0

Don't expose your new favorite perennial to blazing sun or permanent shade. Under these extreme conditions, the flowering takes care of itself and the breathtaking foliage coloration fails to materialize.
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The right planting distance

The clump-like, expansive habit of purple bells requires generous planting spacing so that the decorative effect can be seen to its best advantage. Arrange the perennials in the bed at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other. For cultivation in tubs and balcony boxes, please reduce this value by 5 cm. If you have intended Heuchera to be a decorative groundcover, plant 6-8 specimens per square meter.

What soil does the plant need?

Welcome your purple bells with a nutrient-rich, humus-rich and well-drained soil. The ornamental perennials like to stretch out their roots in moderately dry to freshly moist soil that contains some lime. These rather modest requirements make it easy for us to choose the substrate for pots and balcony boxes. A good compost-based potting soil will perform when enriched with a handful of perlite, fine grit and rock dust.

What is the best planting time?

Heuchera grown in containers can be planted throughout the growing season. The ideal planting time extends over the months of August and September. At this time, young purple bells find ideal conditions in the sun-warmed soil for rapid rooting until winter.

When is flowering time?

From spring until well into autumn, purple bells set colorful accents in your garden and on the balcony. Properly combined, the flowering period extends from May to October. Use the following overview of the most popular types for your inspiration:

  • Purple bells (Heuchera sanguinea): flowering period from May to July
  • Small-flowered purple bells (Heuchera micrantha): flowering period from June to September
  • Pointed purple bells (Heuchera villosa): flowering period from July to October

Please consider that the ornamental value of purple bells is by no means limited to the panicles. With the most magnificent species, it is the breathtakingly colored leaves that captivate us all year round with iridescent nuances.
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Cut purple bells correctly

If you cut off faded flower stalks down to the basal foliage, you can look forward to a second flowering. When the garden year is coming to an end, only withered flower stalks are cut off. Enjoy the impressive winter aspect of the ornamental leaves until early spring. In February, cut the perennial down to the ground to make room for fresh shoots.
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Pour purple bells

Given the dense, evergreen foliage, purple bells need watering all year round. Check regularly with a thumb test whether the soil or substrate has dried. Only water the perennials moderately, as waterlogging causes root rot within a short time and the plants die. Please note that even after a light summer rain, additional watering may be required as the raindrops do not reach the floor. If winter comes with frost, water Heuchera in beds and tubs on mild days.

Fertilize purple bells properly

When it comes to nutrient supply, purple bells are unexpectedly modest. In the bed, the magnificent perennials are content with compost, horn shavings and rock dust in March/April and again in June/July. Please only work the organic material superficially into the soil and then water it. If Heuchera thrive in a planter, add a little liquid fertilizer to the irrigation water every month from May to September.

hibernate

As a typical saxifrage plant, purple bells are hardy in Central Europe. Outdoor protection from the cold is only advisable in regions with very cold and long winters. Ideally, cover the perennial with a thick layer of foliage, fixed with pine fronds. A protective layer of compost has also proven itself in gardening practice. Please do not take your potted Heuchera to a frost-free winter quarters. The plants need a cold spell to sprout again next spring. Instead, wrap the jar in bubble wrap and place it on a block of wood in front of the south wall of the house.

Multiply purple bells

The multifaceted diversity of species and varieties of purple bells awakens a passion for collecting in us. In order to fulfill the desire for more specimens, these uncomplicated methods of propagation are available:

  • Division of the root ball in spring or autumn
  • Cut top cuttings in summer to root them in the small pot
  • Harvest the capsules with the dark seeds and sow behind glass from February

Unlike vegetative propagation by division or cuttings, sowing can be a headache. Some of the prettiest varieties are sterile, meaning they will not produce seed pods. If you get hold of the seed, it requires stratification. Only with a cold stimulus at temperatures between - 4 and + 4 degrees Celsius can the seeds be motivated to germinate.
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How do I plant correctly?

After 3-4 years, the vitality of purple bells dwindles noticeably. The flowering becomes stunted and the previously bright leaf color becomes dull. Now is the right time for a makeover. In autumn, pick up the root ball and divide it into segments with at least 2 buds. At the new location, the sections are planted in the earth that has been treated with compost and rock dust. Water regularly and plentifully in the period that follows, and the rejuvenated perennials will take root quickly.

Purple bells in a pot

In the pot, purple bells transform partially shaded areas on balconies and terraces into colourful, evergreen retreats. In order for the plan to succeed, a drainage made of potsherds under the well-drained substrate effectively prevents bad waterlogging. Always water Heuchera in the planter when the soil surface has dried 2-3 cm deep. Gradually let the water run onto the root ball. As soon as the coaster fills up, the current watering requirement is covered. Monthly doses of liquid fertilizer from May to September give your flowering and ornamental foliage perennials new impetus. Please do not clear the tubs, as Heuchera depend on the cold stimulus of winter to induce flowering. Instead, place the vessels on wood and wrap them with foil, fleece or jute ribbons. The withered flower stalks are cut off down to the foliage. The leaves themselves are only cut back close to the ground shortly before new sprouting.

Is purple bells poisonous?

Beautify your family garden without worries with the non-toxic purple bells. No Heuchera species or variety poses a health risk to humans or animals.
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trivia

The high regard for the enchanting purple bell received a special tribute on December 4, 2014. On this day, the Deutsche Bundespost issued a new postage stamp as part of the flower series. Since then, the postage stamp with a value of 395 euro cents has been adorned with a depiction of a purple bell in bloom.

Beautiful varieties

  • Firefly: premium variety with spherical growth and scarlet flower panicles from June to July; Growth height 10-60 cm
  • Berry Smoothie: Stunningly beautiful silver bells with iridescent berry colored foliage and white bloom; 50-60cm
  • Plum Pudding: A sighting winner with ruffled plum-purple leaves and pinkish-white flowers; 50-60cm
  • Autumn Leaves: Delighted with foliage coloring ranging from bright red to peachy to burgundy throughout the year; 40-50cm
  • Silver Streak: A salmon pink flower rises above the bronze, silvery leaves; 30-40cm
  • Sweet Tea: Fantastically beautiful with tea-colored, silvery heart petals and cream-colored flower spikes; 40-50cm
  • Shanghai: Awaits with dark purple, maple-shaped leaves beneath delicate, white bell-shaped flowers; 25-40cm
  • Solar Eclipse: The reddish-brown heart leaves are adorned with a neon-green border; a feast for the eyes in beds and tubs; 40-50cm
  • Tiramisu: Noble hybrid whose creamy-white flowers rise above yellow, rust-red leaves; 40-50cm

Category:

Vegetable garden