Heucheras continue to be launched at a fast pace, there are twenty two in the new RHS PlantFinder. I covered the two available from the most nurseries three weeks ago, but another five are available from five or six nurseries. Four are American, one is from France. There are some startling colours.
Firstly, those from America. With ruffled and rippled lobed foliage, the leaves of ‘Midas Touch’ (above) bring a blend of peach and gold with an attractive network of veins. This is strong but compact plant, ideal in mixed containers and in vivid planting schemes.
‘Mysteria’ appeared at Hampton Court Palace Flower Show last year and is now more widely available. This is one of the best in combining good foliage and good flowers. The prettily ruffled leaves are attractively silvered, with pinkish tinges and glimpses of the red undersides as they unfurl. The flowers are coral pink, open in late spring and summer, and are held low over the leaves. ‘Lipstick’, too, is a fine flower and foliage combination, the bright scarlet flowers carried above intriguingly puckered silvery green leaves.
The exceptionally winter tolerant ‘Shanghai’ (left), also seen at last year's Hampton Court, features silvery purple leaves which emerge almost purple yet retain their colouring through the winter making this a valuable plant for winter containers. Then in summer there’s a long succession of white flowers carried on purple stems.
Finally from France, from the breeder who brought us the popular ‘Tiramisu’ and the superb ‘Citronelle’, comes ‘Kassandra’. A vigorous plant, the leaves open in caramel colouring then mature into orange and amber, and finally flourish in maroon with pinkish tints in the autumn. There are also white flowers in summer.
I’ve just been checking up and it looks as if I’ll be writing up more new heucheras later this year.
Heuchera ‘Midas Touch’ is available from these six RHS PlantFinder nurseries
Heuchera ‘Kassandra’ is available from these five RHS PlantFinder nurseries
Heuchera ‘Lipstick’ is available from these five RHS PlantFinder nurseries
Heuchera ‘Mysteria’ is available from these five RHS PlantFinder nurseries
Heuchera ‘Shanghai’ is available from these five RHS PlantFinder nurseries