coral bell love

Today's gardeners have more options for planting than ever before, and each year new hybrids and colors are developed.  Zones are changing, and things you could never plant in Minnesota now will thrive. 

I love visiting garden centers, and finding new and unusual plants to add to my collections.  A few years ago, I feel deeply in love with Heuchara (commonly known as Coral Bells).  While they do get flowers (tiny blooms on tall, elegant stems) I grow them for their leaves.  The colors are stunning, and some of them change through the seasons. 

They play well with others, and can make a lowly impatien or viola really pop.  Mix them in with coleus varieties, and you can have a foliage festival!  There are different leaf shapes, and they are the first plants to bring you color in the spring, and stay strong all season long.  How can you not love a plant that will never let you down?  And best of all, most prefer part shade, which is mostly what I have in my yard. 

My obsession started innocently enough, with a little Palace Purple:

(Google images) 

Each year I  find a new variety, and with every new color I bring more variety to my garden, all season long. 

Lime Rickey:

(google images)

Beaujolais:

(Google images)

(I had intended to highlight my actual plants, but am experiencing TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES so I have found pictures from the net that will highlight things.  Most of these are from on-line nurseries, if you ever have time to fall down the rabbit hole and enter that world, you can order pretty much any plant you want.  I better hide my credit card....)

Here are some varieties I would love to add to my collection (not only do I love the color, I adore the names!) Creme Brulee:

(Google images)

Tiramisu:

(Google images)

Black Currant:

(Google images)

Caramel:

(google images)

 

Each year on Mother's Day, I like to add a new addition-this year it was Miracle (rather fitting, don't you think?)

(Google images)

Yesterday I added a new one to my collection, 'Melting Fire'.  Even Home Depot carries a few varieties:

(Google images)

Isn't it stunning???

  I have read on-line that there are over 500 varieties of Heuchera, with new ones being developed each year. 

I'm going to need a bigger garden.....