Heuchera 'DELTA DAWN' coral bells
Heuchera
Heucheras – coral bells are undemanding yet striking perennials that have gained popularity thanks to their beautiful foliage and delicate flowers, sometimes appearing in rich inflorescences. They form dense clumps of leaves with a breathtaking range of colours. The genus was named after Johann Heinrich von Heucher (1677–1746), a German physician and professor. It includes around forty species of perennial plants, mostly native to North America, except for H. sichotensis from the Russian Far East. To Europe, heucheras were introduced in the 18th century. their classification can be quite challenging as in the wild, these plants often crossbreed, and their flowers change shape significantly as they mature. That’s why so many breeders are drawn to them – their variable gene pool invites experimentation, and the thrill of discovering something new at the end of a breeding attempt is simply irresistible 😊.
Over the years of hard breeding work Terra Nova® Nurseries from Canby in Oregon, USA, have become a synonym for heucheras thanks to their skilful breeder Janet N. Egger. And when one might think that there’s nothing more to come up with they introduce a whole new series called NORTHERN EXPOSURE™ in 2017. They combine findings of Modern Research breeding station in Manitoba, Canada, and Janet’s ground-breaking hybridizing of h. richardsonii with pelargonium-like foliage. The resulting plants are not only beautiful but also hardier, surviving as much as -40 °C, they are rust resistant and have shorter flowering stems.
Delta Dawn is another modern coral bells with fantastic leaves. They are rounded and large, vivid yellow in the sun or light lime green in shade, and soon after they emerge they develop a red blush which enlarges to marbling and in mature leaves red colour occupies majority of the leaf surface.
In June appear short stems with small white flowers composed in slender panicles but if they spoil the image of the perfect foliage you can cut them off yet before they begin to bloom. The leaves remain nice and healthy until late autumn and in winter, too, owing to which this plant is sometimes erroneously classified as evergreen. All leaves should be removed in early spring to encourage new growths. Delta Dawn was bred by Janet Egger from Terra Nova® Nurseries in Oregon, USA, and patent No. PP23545 was granted in 2013.
Coral bells are hardy and mostly evergreen perennials, mainly used as ground covers, however, they are excellent companions to plants with other textures, especially when mass planted. They prefer lightly shaded locations and evenly moist, nutrient-rich soil—soil pH does not matter. With occasional watering, they can tolerate full sun, except for light-colored varieties, unless specifically bred for sun exposure. They can even grow in shade, though their colors will be less vivid. In early spring, simply trim all leaves, allowing fresh new foliage to emerge. Fertilization is not required but significantly enhances their appearance and vigour. They are hardy to approximately -34 °C (USDA zone 4) and can be grown in outdoor containers as well.
Last update 02-12-2012; 22-11-2022
