Heucherella
x Heucherella
Heucherella, or foamy bells, is a colorful hybrid perennial combining the bold foliage of coral bells with the airy flower sprays of foamflower. It offers striking leaves in many colors plus dainty spring blooms.
- Light
- Part shade
- Water
- Keep evenly moist; well-drained
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Heucherella (x Heucherella) is an intergeneric hybrid in the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae), bred by crossing Heuchera (coral bells) with Tiarella (foamflower). The result combines the best of both parents.
From Heuchera it inherits richly colored, often lobed foliage in shades of amber, caramel, chartreuse, red, and bronze; from Tiarella it gains delicate, foamy sprays of pink or white spring flowers and sometimes attractive leaf markings.
These mounded, clumping perennials are prized for season-long foliage interest in shade and part-shade gardens.
How to identify it
Recognize heucherella by its colorful lobed foliage and frothy flower spikes.
- Leaves: Lobed or maple-shaped, often boldly colored or veined in red, amber, bronze, or chartreuse, evergreen to semi-evergreen
- Flowers: Tiny bell-shaped blooms in airy, foamy spikes, usually white to soft pink, in late spring
- Size: Typically 8 to 18 inches tall, forming neat mounds
- Habit: Compact, clumping perennial that does not spread by runners (unlike some foamflowers)
- Bloom time: Late spring to early summer
Care & growing
Easy in the same conditions as its parents.
- Light: Part shade is ideal; morning sun with afternoon shade works well, while deep shade dulls foliage color
- Water: Keep soil evenly moist but well-drained; avoid waterlogging
- Soil: Rich, humusy, well-draining soil
- Temperature: Hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9
- Feeding: Light feeding or compost in spring
- Propagation: Division in spring; being a sterile hybrid, it is propagated vegetatively, not by seed
Habitat & origin
Heucherella is a garden-created hybrid with no wild native range, derived from North American woodland parents (Heuchera and Tiarella).
It is grown in shaded and part-shaded borders, woodland gardens, containers, and as edging. It is popular across temperate gardens wherever colorful, low-maintenance shade foliage is desired.
Uses & benefits
An exceptional ornamental foliage plant for shade.
- Provides season-long color in shade borders, woodland gardens, and containers
- Excellent for edging, mass plantings, and mixed shade containers
- The spring flowers attract pollinators, and the foliage offers months of interest
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between heuchera and heucherella?
Heucherella is a hybrid of heuchera (coral bells) and tiarella (foamflower), combining colorful leaves with foamy flower sprays.
Does heucherella spread?
Most stay as tidy clumps, though some inherit foamflower's mounding habit. They generally do not run aggressively.
Can I grow heucherella from seed?
No. It is a sterile hybrid, so it is propagated by division rather than seed.
Is heucherella evergreen?
It is evergreen to semi-evergreen in mild climates, providing winter foliage interest in many regions.
Heucherella guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Heucherella.
