Hardy Perennials and Old Fashioned Flowers Part 25

The Heucheras bloom from May to August.

Heuchera Americana.

AMERICAN HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

The flowers of this species are a dull or reddish purple. The foliage is rough and clammy; the form of leaf resembles that of _H. glabra_ (see Fig. 51), but the colour is a lighter green. All the genus are of an astringent nature, but this species is remarkably so, and in its native country has earned for the family the name of "Alum-root."

For cultivation and flowering period see _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Cylindrica.

CYLINDRICAL-SPIKED HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

This is much in the way of _H. Richardsoni_, with the distinction indicated by the name, the flowers being arranged evenly round the spike like a cylinder.

For cultivation and flowering period see _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Drummondi.

DRUMMOND'S HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

A tall kind, with leaves of handsome shape (heart-shaped and lobed) and greener than most varieties.

Cultivation and flowering period are described under _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Glabra.

SMOOTH HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 51. HEUCHERA GLABRA.

(One-sixth natural size.)]

This was introduced in 1824 from North America. The foliage is bold and abundant; the ill.u.s.tration (Fig. 51) not only gives a good idea of the form and habit of foliage, but fairly represents the whole genus, as seen during the late (1882) season. This species has dull pinkish flowers; the scapes have a few leaves; root leaves are 2in. to 5in. in diameter, heart-shaped, lobed, toothed, smooth, and of a dark bronzy-green colour. The leaf stalks are long and slender; the habit very neat.

Cultivation and flowering period are described under _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Lucida.

s.h.i.+NING-LEAVED HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

A very dwarf species, not more than 3in. or 4in. high; the foliage a clear bright green, nearly kidney-shaped, lobed, and roundly toothed.

The fresh appearance of its prostrate leaves, which are 2in. across, forms a pleasing object in mid-winter.

Cultivation and flowering period, as given under _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Metallica.

_Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

This was presented to me in 1881 by a lady, who informed me that it was introduced by the late Miss Hope. It is a beautiful plant; the hues somewhat justify the name, but to the touch the leaves are more like a soft fabric, as cloth or velvet. The flowers are of no value, but the foliage is bloom of no mean order, so much so, that everyone stops to admire this handsome plant.

Cultivation and flowering period, as given under _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Micrantha.

SMALL-FLOWERED HEUCHERA; _Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.

From Columbia. Flowers a yellowish-green; leaves nearly round, bluntly lobed, crenate or round toothed, the teeth horned or pointed; the colour is inclined to auburn during autumn, but it varies, and for a botanical description it would be hard to state a particular colour. The gardener, however, will find in this a most useful plant, where different forms and tints of foliage are desirable. Into the sub-tropical garden it may be introduced with good effect. I may add that the leaf stalks are 9in.

to 12in. long, also of a rich brown colour, and the leaves are 3in. to 5in. across.

Cultivation and flowering period, as described under _Heuchera_.

Heuchera Purpurea.

_Nat. Ord._ SAXIFRAGACEae.