GardenDC Podcast Episode 214: Heuchera

In this episode, we talk with Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries, about Coral Bells (Heuchera spp.). The plant profile is on Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia spp.) and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on the Tale of Rosie from Christy Page of Green Prints.

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If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 121: Gold Medal Plants

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-121-gold-medal.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 135: Plants for Shade

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-135-plants-for.html

This episode is archived at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Heuchera-e2pi5k1

Show Notes: 01:12 - Welcome Dan Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries 01:39 - Dan talks about his childhood and college gardening experiences 03:28 - Did Dan pursue a degree in botany or horticulture? 06:33 - What did Dan do after college? 08:45 - Dan’s goal of introducing 801 new plants to horticulture 09:40 - Dan shares some of Terra Nova’s most popular plants 11:51 - Dan talks about the growing/climate conditions of his area 13:48 - How do you pronounce Heuchera? 15:00 - Where are heuchera native to and what are their preferred growing conditions? 20:02 - Dan emphasizes the importance of drainage for heucheras 22:57 - Dan talks about the best time to feed heucheras 23:35 - What should you use to fertilize heucheras? 27:31 - How do you remove the old, crunchy leaves? 28:37 - Dan shares how he cleans up his heucheras 30:13 - Dan discusses the use of AI in Terra Nova’s catalogs 32:40 - Dan talks about heuchera cultivars from 30 years ago 34:30 - the amazing color combinations of heucheras 37:09 - Heuchera plants that have H. villosa parents 37:42 - Dan discusses his personal favorite heuchera varieties 40:53 - Dan talks about heucherellas 43:13 - Kathy shares her favorite varieties from Terra Nova 44:45 - Where can listeners get plants from Terra Nova? 46:54 - Where can you contact Dan? Dan@terranovanurseries.com 47:37 - Dan’s final tips for first-time heuchera growers? 50:42 - Dan talks about some of the “nasties” and how to deal with them 53:16 - What is Dan looking forward to for the future of heuchera? 56:04 -The Urban Garden: 101 Ways to Grow Food and Beauty in the City 56:57 - Tithonia aka Mexican Sunflower plant profile 58:43 - What’s new in the garden this week? Hamamelis virginiana in full bloom and newly-planted radishes and carrots 59:18 - Rest in peace Stanton Gill 59:45 - Garden tips of the week: Remove and destroy iris foliage and switch out your summer annuals 1:00:33 - Upcoming local gardening events: Franciscan Monastery Garden Guild’s first fall festival and Bird Walk screening at Brookside Gardens 1:03:04 - A Tale of Rosie, the Dog of Destruction 1:06:01 - Thank you for listening! Become a supporter

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Episode Credits:
Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Interview Edit and Show Notes: Zachary Intrater

Music: Let the Sunshine by James Mulvany

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Plant Profile: Heuchera (Coral Bells)

Whether you pronounce it hoy-ker-uh or hue-krah or hew-ker-a, this terrific perennial species, with the common names of Coral Bells or Alumroot, has seen an explosion of new introductions in the last decade or so.

   Heuchera are native to North America and do well in woodland garden beds, rock gardens, containers, borders, and as ground covers.

   They are drought-tolerant and prefer soil to be a little more alkaline than acidic. If you have heavy clay soil, than it is necessary to add some lighter gardening soil when transplanting them into the ground.
    To get more plants, carefully dig and divide the clumps in early spring — make sure that each piece you re-plant has some good roots attached. 

   For those gardening where there are hot and humid summers, select those with Heuchera villosa in its lineage. H. villosa is a species native to the southern Appalachian Mountains. Villosa means “hairy leaf” and those fine hairs not only make it heat-tolerant, but also deer-resistant.
    The hybrids that have been developed in recent years have an extensive array of colors, shapes, foliage types, and blossom sizes. Heucheras will bloom from early June until the end of summer, but the foliage is the most eye-catching aspect of these perennials. Most varieties do best in part-shade with some morning sun, but there are recent introductions that flourish from full-sun to full-shade.

   Heucheras have also been hybridized with another native shade perennial called Tiarella to produce the Heucherella, which has added even more fantastic colors and textures to this extraordinary line of perennials.

   Some of my favorite Heuchera cultivars include ‘Midnight Rose’, ‘Silver Gumdrop’, ‘Plum Cascade’, ‘Berry Smoothie’, and 'Lime Rickey'.

   Try a Heuchera in your garden today – you can grow that!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine and edited by intern Jessica Kranz.

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