Re: Heucheria "Palace Purple"
- To:
- Subject: Re: Heucheria "Palace Purple"
- From: M* T*
- Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 02:11:53 -0400
Well, Leslie...
Since it has survived in your zone for 4 years, I'd consider that it is
hardy for you, despite ratings I've seen only to z4. I would imagine that
it would like a lot of sun where you are, as long as the soil does not dry
out.
I have discovered, with all Heuchera, that they flourish best in good,
organic, deep, loose soil that does not dry out, but that has good
drainage.
Mine who receive two or three hours of late morning sun, in a 12" deep
raised bed that was filled with spent potting soil, do better as far as
lushness of growth than those in my other borders - part sun or shade, in
amended clay soil. Of course, this raised bed is full of "pets" and
relatively new, so it gets a whole lot more attention and watering than
some of my other borders...
'Palace Purple' is basically grown for its foliage. The blooms are totally
insignificant, really...what you want to encourage is the foliage:-)
I have found that this cultivar does better with some sun - actually all of
them do. In deep shade, it grows fine, but the foliage gets more green
than purple...it seems to just dull down a bit.
This is a very variable cultivar since most of the plants available in
nurseries are seed grown. Probably should not be sold as 'Palace Purple'
at all, but as a "seedling" of 'Palace Purple'. Foliage colors can vary
all over the map from slightly muddy brownish purple to a really nice deep
reddish purple.
Another thing about Heucheras in general is that they benefit from lifting
and dividing or at least re-setting in newly amended soil every year or so.
If you leave them in place for 4 or 5 years, they tend to sort of dwindle
a bit, plus they push their crowns out of the soil.
You might try re-setting yours next spring in a big hole full of compost
and making sure it stays moist....see what happens...before you give up on
it entirely.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
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----------
> From: Leslie McKendry-Smith <McKendrySmith@mbnet.mb.ca>
> Date: Saturday, June 26, 1999 3:24 PM
>
> I've had a Palace Purple coral bells for about 4 years and it hasn't done
> much for me. It's only bloomed once and isn't substantially bigger than
> when I bought it.
>
> I admit that I'm growing it out of zone (4 vs. 3). In the spring I
decided
> to give it one more year and if it didn't bloom I'd ask my sister it she
> could find place for it in her sheltered garden.
>
> But this morning, I had a thought. (What's that burning smell?) Perhaps
> it should be in partial shade. I've been growing it in the bright
> sunshine, thinking what's good for my other coral bells will work for
> Palace Purple.
>
> I'd like to hear from anyone who's grown Palace Purple or any other puple
> leaved variety. How much sun does your's get? Is it just not hardy
enough
> for zone 3? Would I have better luck with Bressingham Bronze?
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