American Alumroot Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay'
ABOUT
Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay', commonly known as American alumroot or Coral Bells, is a visually striking plant that is admired for its ornamental foliage and dainty flower spikes. The plant features a mounding habit of leaves that are round to heart-shaped with scalloped edges. These leaves can exhibit a range of colors, often including variations of green, silver, and purple hues, sometimes with intricate veining or marbling effects that add to their visual interest. In addition to the foliage, Coral Bells produce slender, upright stems that bear small, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers are typically arranged in loose panicles and can appear in shades of white, pink, or red, depending on the specific cultivar. These blooms are often favored by hummingbirds and butterflies, adding an extra layer of garden appeal. Overall, the American alumroot 'Harry Hay' is celebrated for its unique and colorful foliage, as well as its delicate flowers, making it a popular choice for garden beds, borders, and container plantings. Its appearance can provide striking contrast when paired with plants of differing textures or colors.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Saxifragaceae
Synonyms
American Alumroot, Coral Bells, Rock Geranium
Common names
Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay'.
ToxicityTo humans
Alumroot is not known to be toxic to humans. There are no widespread reports of poisoning or adverse effects from ingesting this plant. However, it is generally recommended to avoid consuming any plant parts if you are not certain of their edibility and potential effects.
To pets
Alumroot is not known to be toxic to pets. This plant does not appear on common toxic plant lists for animals such as dogs and cats, and there are no significant reports of toxicity from ingestion. As with humans, it is still advisable to prevent pets from eating plants as a precautionary measure.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Semi-deciduous
Color of leaves
Varies
Flower color
White
Height
1-2 feet (30-61 cm)
Spread
1-2 feet (30-61 cm)
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4-9
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Attracts Pollinators: Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' is known to attract bees and butterflies, which is beneficial for garden pollination.
- Drought Tolerant: Once established, it requires less water, making it suitable for xeriscaping and water-wise gardens.
- Low Maintenance: The plant is easy to care for, requiring minimal upkeep once it has acclimated to its location.
- Long Blooming Period: Offers a long season of interest with flowers that bloom over an extended period.
- Foliage Interest: Provides year-round foliage interest due to its colorful and ornamental leaves.
- Non-Invasive: It is not an aggressive plant, reducing the need for constant control and maintenance.
- Shade Tolerant: It can thrive in shaded areas where many other plants struggle, adding color and life to darker corners of the garden.
- Versatile Use: Suitable for a variety of garden applications including borders, rock gardens, and container plantings.
- Deer Resistant: Less likely to be eaten by deer, which can be crucial in areas where deer predation is a problem for gardeners.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Photography Enhancement: Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' with its colorful foliage is often used by photographers as a natural prop to enhance the composition and color contrast in their photos.
- Educational Tool: This plant's variety of leaf forms and colors can be used for educational purposes, teaching about plant diversity and adaptation in gardening courses or workshops.
- Artistic Inspiration: Artists may use the plant as a subject for drawing, painting, or even as inspiration for textile patterns and other forms of decorative art.
- Culinary Decoration: Although not commonly eaten, the leaves can be used as a decorative element to add color and interest to culinary presentations.
- Crafting Material: The dried foliage of the Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' can be incorporated into craft projects, like making bookmarks or adding to potpourri mixtures.
- Theme Gardens: This plant is an excellent addition to fairy gardens or other themed miniature gardens due to its diverse leaf shapes and colors.
- Seasonal Decorations: The Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay's' vibrant leaves provide autumnal tones that can be used in fall decorations indoors or in outdoor displays.
- Container Combination: This Heuchera works well in container plantings, providing contrast when paired with other plants that have different textures or growth habits.
- Wedding Decor: The attractive foliage of Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' can be used in eco-friendly wedding décor, such as in table settings or as part of the bridal bouquet.
- Soil Erosion Control: When planted en masse, the Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' can help in stabilizing soil in areas prone to erosion due to its relatively dense root system.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Coral Bells is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Coral Bells is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Longevity: Heuchera americana, commonly known as American alumroot or Coral Bells, is a perennial plant, symbolizing enduring life and long-lasting endeavors.
- Versatility: With its ability to thrive in various lighting conditions, American alumroot represents adaptability and flexibility in life.
- Beauty in Variety: The 'Harry Hay' cultivar, like many Heucheras, boasts unique and varied foliage, emblematic of the beauty in diversity and individuality.
- Attraction: As the plant is known to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, it symbolizes magnetism and the ability to draw in positivity.
WaterThe common name for Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay' is American Alumroot. To water this plant, ensure the soil is evenly moist but not soggy. Allow the top inch of the soil to dry out before the next watering. American Alumroot typically needs to be watered once a week, but this frequency may need to increase during hot, dry spells. When watering, apply approximately half a gallon of water per plant, ensuring that the water penetrates deeply to reach the roots. Avoid watering the foliage directly to prevent fungal diseases.
LightAmerican Alumroot thrives best in partial shade conditions where it can receive indirect sunlight for most of the day. It can also adapt to full shade, making it suitable for planting under trees or on the north side of a building. Avoid placing it in direct, harsh afternoon sun as it can damage the leaves.
TemperatureAmerican Alumroot prefers temperature ranges between 60°F and 70°F, which are ideal for its growth. It can survive minimum temperatures down to about 20°F, making it resilient in cooler climates. However, during the heat of summer, ensure the plant is not exposed to temperatures exceeding 85°F, as this can stress the plant.
PruningPruning American Alumroot promotes healthy growth and prevents disease by removing dead or damaged leaves. The best time to prune is in late winter or early spring before new growth starts. Prune the plant once a year, and also any time you notice dead leaves during the growing season to keep it tidy and encourage new foliage.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFor American Alumroot 'Harry Hay', a well-draining soil mix is crucial; use a blend of one-third peat, one-third garden loam, and one-third perlite or coarse sand. The ideal soil pH should be slightly acidic to neutral, ranging from 6.0 to 7.0.
RepottingAmerican Alumroot 'Harry Hay' should be repotted every 2 to 3 years to renew the soil and accommodate root growth. It's best done in spring or early summer when the plant is actively growing.
Humidity & MistingAmerican Alumroot 'Harry Hay' thrives in average humidity conditions typical of most home environments, without the need for any special humidification measures.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place American Alumroot in bright, indirect light with well-draining soil.
Outdoor
Grow American Alumroot in dappled shade, mulch, and well-draining soil.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycleAmerican Alumroot 'Harry Hay' begins its life cycle as a seed, which upon germination in favorable conditions, develops into a small seedling. The seedling grows and establishes itself into a young plant with a rosette of rounded, scalloped leaves. As a mature perennial plant, 'Harry Hay' forms a clump with evergreen foliage, and reaches reproductive maturity, producing tall flower spikes with tiny bell-shaped flowers in the spring or early summer. After pollination by insects, these flowers can develop into seed capsules containing numerous tiny seeds. During the growing season, the plant may also propagate vegetatively by producing offsets. As a perennial, it enters a period of dormancy in the winter, with the foliage sometimes dying back, depending on the climate, before resuming growth in the spring.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
The most popular method of propagating Heuchera americana 'Harry Hay', commonly known as American alumroot or Coral Bells, is by division. This is ideally done in the spring when the plant begins to grow vigorously or in the late summer to early fall, allowing the divisions to establish before the onset of winter. To divide the plant, carefully lift it from the ground with a spade, ensuring a good amount of roots attached to each clump. The clumps can then be separated either by hand or with a knife into smaller sections, each with a decent root system and several shoots. These divisions should be replanted promptly at the same soil depth they were growing at before and watered well. After replanting, maintain consistent moisture to facilitate root development and help the new plants to establish.
