Rescuing a Struggling Heuchera: Lessons in Trial, Error, and Persistence

A few years ago, I bought a pair of Heuchera 'Montrose Ruby' (Coral Bells) for what I thought was the perfect garden spot. The plant disagreed—with spots one, two, and three. But I couldn't give up on it. Can you?

Heuchera Basics

Also called Coral Bells or Alumroot, Heuchera is a perennial grown for stunning foliage in colors from lime green and chartreuse to peach, pink, silvered burgundy, and near-black. Variegated cultivars resemble Coleus in perennial form. Hundreds of cultivars exist—Dave's Garden PlantFiles lists over 330.

The Perfect Spot, or Not

I first planted near maple trees, hastily chopping a hole in the roots. The spot got more midday sun than expected—leaves scorched. Moved to the other side for full shade (Spot #2), but tree roots created dry soil, and the dark foliage disappeared in deep shade. Spot #3, a tree-root-free bed with light shade from a dogwood, seemed ideal—until something ate all the leaves, leaving spindly stems.

Critical Care and Recovery

Even leafless, the roots and growing point survived. I moved the plants to a bed near my vegetable garden and compost—better shade, no tree roots, more TLC. A mild winter and spring rain fueled a miraculous recovery. Fish emulsion fertilizer helped.

Lessons Learned

• Wrong exposure – 'Montrose Ruby' is particular about sun; it burned easily in the first site.
• Poor planting preparation – Hole too small, no compost added, tree roots outcompeted the nursery plant.
• Poor placement for viewing – Dark foliage invisible in deep shade.
• Insufficient monitoring – Pest damage went unnoticed.

Success with a new plant comes from research: check books, Dave's Garden PlantFiles for real-gardener reviews, and articles. A plant with beauty and sentimental value deserves a second (or third, or fourth) chance. With care, research, trial, error, and maybe luck, you'll make each other happy.