With their low mounding habit and brilliantly colored foliage, heucheras, also known as coral bells, are stars of the shade garden. Their nearly neon leaves brighten up dim corners and complement spring bloomers. But heucheras don’t have to shine alone. The right companion plants can make coral bells even more striking.
In this guide, we’ll explore the top companion plant pairings for heucheras and provide tips to create showstopping heuchera combinations.
Why Combine Plants with Heuchera?
Heucheras are excellent foundation plants. But planting them alone wastes their potential.
Companion planting offers multiple benefits:
- Extends floral display from spring through fall
- Provides vertical contrast to low heucheras
- Adds striking textures for visual interest
- Attracts more pollinators
- Maximizes space in smaller gardens
Combining heucheras with plants sharing their cultural needs also streamlines care and maintenance
Best Perennials to Plant with Heuchera
Many perennials thrive in the same conditions as coral bells Here are some of the best
Astilbe
The feathery plumes of astilbe stand above heuchera’s low mounds, creating vertical contrast. Astilbe’s soft colors complement both bright and subtle heuchera varieties. Both plants thrive in moist, organic soil.
Japanese Painted Fern
The bright silver fronds of painted fern echo heuchera’s colorful drama. Their lacy textures pair beautifully. Underplant painted ferns and heucheras together in shady borders.
Hosta
Hostas are a classic heuchera companion. Their bold leaves combine with heucheras for high color impact. Plant them in drifts together along shaded pathways or incorporate hosta varieties as specimens.
Lungwort
Lungwort’s clusters of blue flowers bloom as heucheras emerge in spring. Their silver-spotted leaves continue providing contrast after blooms fade. Lungwort thrives in organic, humus-rich soil like coral bells.
Goatsbeard
Goatsbeard has huge, fluffy white plumes reaching 3-6 feet tall. This provides great vertical contrast next to low heucheras. The similar soil needs make them ideal partners.
Foamflower
With leaves resembling heuchera, foamflower offers similar texture. But in spring, foamflower sends up white flower spikes for contrast. Plant en masse or in drifts in shaded beds.
Best Shrubs to Pair with Coral Bells
Try underplanting these shrubs with heucheras:
Azalea
The vibrant flowers and glossy leaves of evergreen azaleas make them ideal heuchera partners. Plant coral bells at azaleas’ feet to enrich spring displays with foilage contrast.
Rhododendron
Large rhododendron blooms need heucheras’ colorful leaves as support players. Plant coral bells as an understory filler around rhodies. They’ll also brighten once flowers fade.
Hydrangea
Hydrangeas offer gorgeous blooms complemented by heucheras’ permanent foliage. Plant in groupings under the dappled shade of hydrangeas. Both plants thrive in rich soil.
Mountain Laurel
The compact size, glossy leaves, and showy flower clusters of mountain laurel mirror heucheras’ attributes. Plant coral bells beneath mountain laurels to fill in bare ground.
Best Annuals & Perennials for Heuchera Containers
Use these annuals and perennials to make mixed heuchera containers pop:
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Begonias – Combine colorful Rex varieties with heucheras for stunning foliar displays.
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Caladiums – Their eye-catching leaves mix perfectly with heucheras.
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Coleus – Choose contrasting or matching leaf colors for dramatic combos.
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Impatiens – Low-growing impatiens supply seasonal blooms and foliage.
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Sweet Potato Vine – Spilling over pot edges, its trailing vines showcase heucheras.
Design Tips for Combining Plants with Heuchera
Follow these guidelines to design stellar heuchera combinations:
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Select companion plants with similar cultural needs, such as shade tolerance and moisture requirements. This ensures both thrive.
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Use foliage color and texture contrasts to create interest. For example, pair fine-textured ferns with heucheras’ round leaves.
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Incorporate plants with vertical height differences. Tall bloomers like astilbe rise above low heucheras.
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Limit companion plants to 2-3 varieties to avoid a chaotic look.
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Mimic natural patterns by planting in odd-numbered groups and asymmetric drifts rather than rigid rows.
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Consider bloom times and sequence colors from spring through fall.
Caring for Heucheras Planted with Companions
Growing heuchera with companion plants is easy with proper care:
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Provide evenly moist, humus-rich soil. Heucheras dislike wet feet or dry spells.
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Situate in full to partial shade. Most avoid hot afternoon sun.
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Apply an organic mulch like pine needles to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
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Remove faded heuchera flower spikes to encourage more foliage growth.
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Cut back overgrown companions like astilbe by 1/3 in summer to restrict spread.
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Divide congested plants in spring every 3-4 years. Replant divisions 18 inches apart.
Unique Ways to Use Heuchera Companion Plants
With their diversity, heuchera companion plants invite creativity:
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Edge a shady path with a flowing heuchera and fern combination.
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Fill spaces under rhododendrons and azaleas with coral bells for color.
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Feature heucheras and shade perennials like hostas in low maintenance island beds.
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Plant a heuchera and begonia container to adorn a shady patio.
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Create woodland inspired centerpiece arrangements using heuchera foliage and astilbe plumes.
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Set accent pots with heucheras and impatiens at the base of Japanese maples.
Best Companion Plants for Different Heuchera Types
Certain companions pair best with specific heuchera varieties:
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Bright red coral bells – Goatsbeard, painted ferns
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Peach or sunset heucheras – Astilbe, caladiums
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Silver-leaf heucheras – Hostas, azaleas, rhododendrons
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Ruffled, purple-black heucheras – Boxwoods, lungwort
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Chartreuse heucheras – Complementary coleus
Troubleshooting Heuchera Companion Pairings
If your heuchera combinations underperform, check for these issues:
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Poor flowering – Increase sun exposure. Heucheras need some sunlight.
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Leggy growth – Plants compete for light. Increase space between.
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Wilting – Improve drainage and avoid overwatering.
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Few blooms – Soil lacks nutrients. Apply organic fertilizer.
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Loss of leaf color – Too much sun burns foliage. Provide afternoon shade.
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Poor vigor – Divide and replant overmature plants.
Achieve Success with Heuchera Companion Planting
By following the tips in this guide, you can create showstopping heuchera combinations. Pairing coral bells with plants sharing their preferences results in low maintenance displays.
Experiment with contrasting foliage colors and textures. Include early bloomers like lungwort and mid-summer bloomers like astilbe to maximize floral interest. The creative possibilities pairing heucheras with companion plants are endless for stunning shade gardens!
What to Know About Heuchera
Heucheras are herbaceous perennials that typically grow about a foot tall and have a mounding habit. The leaves are 3 to 5” across, on long stems that emerge from the base of the plant. Though heuchera are usually grown for their ornamental foliage, most varieties also produce a nice display of flowers. It’s hard to tell what these light wands of cream, pink, or red bells are, but they look nice cut and attract hummingbirds.
Though some varieties of heuchera will tolerate heat and humidity, they are general considered cool climate perennials. If you live in a warm area (zones 7-8), look for types that are related to Heuchera villosa or Heuchera americana. Both of these species are native to the southeast and their offspring usually have large, felted leaves. Examples include Southern Comfort, Georgia Peach, Caramel and Fire Alarm.
Heuchera are usually considered shade lovers and they do generally prefer growing in partial shade or morning sun. Yet in all but the warmest areas, most varieties will also grow in full sun. One thing heucheras don’t like is soggy soil. During the growing season, wet weather or overwatering can cause the plants to rot. During winter, heavy, wet soil may cause the plants to heave out of the ground. If possible, choose a planting location with well drained, humus-rich soil.
Most herbaceous perennials die back to the ground in late fall. Heucheras usually come through the winter with old leaves still attached to the base of the plant. Don’t be afraid to cut off these damaged leaves; the plant will soon have a nice display of new leaves. Heucheras should be divided every 3 to 5 years to maintain vigor.
Your Guide to Planning, Planting, and Growing Heuchera
Heuchera, commonly known as coral bells, have come a long way in the past 30-40 years. Plant breeders have made this group of native North American plants into a new type of must-have perennials for modern home gardens. You can now pick from dozens of different kinds of heuchera. The leaves come in a wide range of colors, from lime green and butterscotch to burgundy and almost black.
Plant breeders used several native species, such as Heuchera americana, Heuchera micrantha, Heuchera sanguinea, and Heuchera villosa, to make this new group of heucheras. The resulting hybrids offer improved hardiness, vigor and heat tolerance as well as highly ornamental foliage.
A Secret to Growing Happy Heucheras | Gardening with Creekside
FAQ
What looks good next to coral bells?
Do heucheras like sun or shade?
Do Heuchera spread?
How many years do coral bells last?
What plants go well with Heuchera?
Since heuchera is such a versatile plant, we have made a list for you to find the perfect pairings. Heuchera works well in sunny and shady areas, so are different companion plant options depending on your placement. 1. Astilbe The astilbe is a delicate-looking but hardy plant that pairs impeccably well with the heuchera.
What are Heuchera plants?
Heuchera, also known as Coral Bells, have many different-looking plants to choose from within the genus. Many are acclimated across different climate zones, giving you plenty of options no matter where you plan to grow them.
Is Heuchera a shade tolerant plant?
It’s not too difficult. This is a shade tolerant heuchera that may be grown in rock gardens, borders, open woodland gardens, rocky slopes or native plant areas. It is best planted in … Planting Coral Bells (Heuchera) | Extension Marketing and … Oct 4, 2021 … Coral bells are perennials and native to North America.
Can you grow Heuchera from seed?
Water both the original and divided plant well. You may also notice there are offsets growing from the woody crown of a coral bell. These shoots can be dug up and transplanted without disturbing the mother plant. Seeds usually germinate in 8 weeks. You can grow Heuchera from seed.
