Foamy Bells × Heucherella 'Kimono' (PBR)
ABOUT
× Heucherella 'Kimono' is a perennial plant known for its striking foliage and graceful flowers. The leaves are intricately patterned, displaying a central flare of burgundy or purple that fades into green, silver, or cream towards the edges. This creates a kimono-like pattern, giving the plant its name. The leaves are often heart-shaped or slightly lobed, and they form a dense, mounding habit that makes the plant an attractive groundcover or border specimen. In addition to the eye-catching leaves, × Heucherella 'Kimono' produces delicate, wiry stems that rise above the foliage, each stem bearing a loose spray of small, bell-shaped flowers. The flowers can range in color from pale pink to white and are known for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. The overall appearance of the plant is one of intricacy and subtle beauty, making it a popular choice for gardens where a tapestry of foliage and a prolonged flowering season are desired.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Saxifragaceae
Synonyms
Foamy Bells
Common names
× Heucherella 'Kimono' (PBR)
ToxicityTo humans
The Heucherella 'Kimono' is not known to be toxic to humans. There are no well-documented symptoms or consequences of ingesting any part of this plant for humans.
To pets
The Heucherella 'Kimono' is not known to be toxic to pets. There are no well-documented symptoms or consequences of ingesting any part of this plant for pets.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Semi-deciduous
Color of leaves
Mixed
Flower color
White
Height
1 foot [30 cm]
Spread
1.5 feet [45 cm]
Plant type
Herb
Hardiness zones
4
Native area
North America
Benefits
General Benefits- Ornamental Appeal: Adds visual interest to gardens with its delicate, variegated leaves and small, bell-shaped flowers.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care once established, making it ideal for busy gardeners or those new to gardening.
- Seasonal Interest: Provides year-round interest with foliage that changes color with the seasons.
- Drought Tolerance: Once established, it can survive with less water, making it suitable for drier climates or water-wise gardens.
- Pest Resistance: Generally resistant to common garden pests, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
- Attracts Pollinators: Flowers are attractive to butterflies and bees, promoting pollinator health and biodiversity.
- Shade Tolerance: Thrives in partial to full shade, offering an excellent ground cover option for shaded areas of the garden.
- Compact Size: Its small stature makes it perfect for use in containers, borders, or small garden spaces.
- Easy to Propagate: Can be easily propagated from division, allowing gardeners to create more plants for use in other areas or to share with friends.
- Versatile Usage: Suitable for a variety of garden styles including woodland gardens, rock gardens, and cottage gardens.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Heucherella 'Kimono' can be used in terrariums for its attractive foliage, adding a contrasting texture alongside other lush green plants.
- This plant can be incorporated into a fairy garden due to its delicate and colorful leaves that add a fantasy-like charm to the miniature landscapes.
- Heucherella 'Kimono' is suitable for use in mixed container plantings, providing a colorful underplanting for taller plants or shrubs.
- The plant may be used in floral arrangements as a filler foliage to complement blooms, providing an artistic touch with its variegated leaves.
- It can serve as a living mulch due to its dense foliage, helping to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
- This variety's decorative leaves can also be used in crafting, like leaf casting, where its patterns and textures can be captured in fine detail.
- As an educational tool in horticulture, Heucherella 'Kimono' can exhibit hybrid vigor and traits of both parent genera to those studying plant genetics.
- The compact form and vibrant leaves of the plant make it ideal for borders in small garden spaces, such as balcony gardens.
- Use it as a photography subject for macro and nature photography, where the detailed patterns on the leaves can be appreciated up close.
- It can act as groundcover in shady spots of a rock garden, bringing color and life to these typically hard-to-plant areas.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Heucherella is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Heucherella is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Intricacy and Detail: The name 'Kimono' evokes images of the traditional Japanese garment that is known for its detailed and intricate designs, reflecting the plant's delicate and ornate foliage patterns.
- Cultural Fusion: × Heucherella 'Kimono' is a hybrid of two different species (Heuchera and Tiarella), symbolizing the blending of different elements or cultures into a harmonious whole, similar to how a kimono often combines various fabrics and patterns.
- Adaptability: As a garden plant known for its versatility and ability to thrive in varying conditions, × Heucherella 'Kimono' can symbolize adaptability and resilience in various environments.
- Elegance and Grace: The plant's foliage has a graceful appearance, which can represent refinement, subtlety, and an appreciation for beauty, much like the garment it is named after.
WaterFor the Foamy Bells, it’s essential to maintain evenly moist soil, especially during the growing season. Water the plant deeply once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions, to ensure that the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. As a rule of thumb, Foamy Bells should receive about 1 gallon of water per week. During hot, dry periods, you may need to increase the frequency of watering, and conversely, reduce it during cooler, wet spells. Always check the soil moisture level before watering to prevent overwatering.
LightFoamy Bells thrive in partial to full shade, making it an excellent choice for a garden spot that receives filtered sunlight or a few hours of direct morning sun followed by shade. Avoid placing the plant in intense, direct afternoon sunlight, as this can scorch the leaves and stress the plant. The ideal spot would have bright, indirect light, ensuring the vibrant colors of the foliage remain without fading.
TemperatureFoamy Bells prefer a temperature range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and slightly cooler at night, but can survive in temperatures as low as 30 degrees and as high as 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They perform best in moderate conditions without extreme cold or heat. It's critical to avoid exposure to temperatures below freezing to prevent damage to the plant.
PruningPruning Foamy Bells should be done to remove any spent flowers and damaged or dead leaves, which encourages new growth and maintains the plant's appearance. The best time for pruning is in the spring, just as new growth is starting to appear. Annual pruning will help keep the plant looking tidy and may enhance its vigor.
CleaningAs needed
SoilFoamy Bells prefer well-drained soil mix with organic matter like compost or peat moss. An ideal pH range for this plant is slightly acidic to neutral, between 6.0 and 7.0.
RepottingGenerally, Foamy Bells should be repotted every 2-3 years to refresh the soil and accommodate root growth, preferably in spring or early summer.
Humidity & MistingFoamy Bells thrive in moderate humidity levels, around 50% is ideal but they're adaptable to normal indoor humidity.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Place Foamy Bells in bright, indirect light indoors with moderate watering.
Outdoor
Plant Foamy Bells in partial shade with well-drained soil outdoor.
Hardiness zone
4-9 USDA
Life cycle× Heucherella 'Kimono' (PBR), also known as Foamy Bells 'Kimono', begins its life cycle when seeds are sown or tissue cultures are started in a controlled environment. The seeds germinate, or the cultured tissues develop into young plants, which are then transplanted into individual pots or garden beds. As spring arrives, the plant emerges from dormancy, with new foliage unfolding and showcasing the characteristic variegated leaves. During the growing season, typically in late spring to early summer, the plant produces flowering stems, bearing small, delicate flowers that attract pollinators. After pollination, the flowers may develop into seed capsules, completing the reproductive cycle. The plant then enters a period of dormancy during the colder months, preserving energy underground through its rhizomatous root system before the cycle begins anew with the return of warm weather.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring-Early Summer
The most popular method of propagating × Heucherella 'Kimono', commonly known as Foamy Bells, is by division. Division is typically done in the spring or fall when the plant is not in active growth. To propagate by division, the gardener should carefully dig up the entire plant and gently tease apart the crowns, ensuring that each section has a portion of the root system attached. These divisions can then be replanted at the same soil depth as the original plant and watered well to encourage root development. It’s important to keep the newly planted divisions consistently moist until they are established. This simple method leverages the natural growth habit of Foamy Bells to create new plants that will flourish with the same vigorous and ornamental traits as the parent.
