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Alumroot (Richardson's Alumroot)

Heuchera richardsonii

Family:

Saxifrage family - Saxifragaceae

The rounded foliage transitions to gorgeous shades of red in late summer and fall, providing an eye-catching display in rock gardens or as a border.

Meadow or Grassland garden

Meadow / Grassland garden

Rock garden

Rock garden

Pollinator garden

Pollinator garden

Container garden

Container garden

Adaptable

Adaptable

Details

Emerges 

May

Seed collection

Flowers

June, July

white flowers

White

green flowers

Green

pink flowers

Pink

purple flowers

Purple

July

Height

10

-

60

cm

Lifecycle

Perennial

Width

25

-

45

cm

Habit

Forbs

Herbaceous

Herbaceous

Ecology

Supports

Supports bees

Bees

Supports butterflies and moths

Butterflies & Moths

Supports humingbirds

Hummingbirds

Providing

Provides pollen source

Pollen source

Provides nectar source

Nectar source

Small native bees, including Halictid bees, pollinate the flowers.

Habitat

Typically found in

slopes / banks, prairie

In the Garden

Growing Conditions

Moisture

Dry conditions

Dry

Average conditions

Average

Moist conditions

Moist

Light

Full sun

Full sun

Partial sun

Part sun

Partial shade

Part shade

Soil

Average garden soil, Rocky, Loam, Sand, Clay

Propagation

Via

Seeds

Seeds

Sowing Recommendations

Sow seeds in Fall

Fall planting

High or easy germination

Landscape

Use for:

Border placement

Border

Fall colour

Fall colour

Single planting

Single planting

Groundcover

Groundcover

Mass planting

Mass planting

Low maintenance gardening

Low maintenance gardening

Growing Tips

  • Looks great planted on its own.

  • Suggested spacing for planting is 45 cm. 

  • Prefers rocky soil but is adaptable and easy to grow just about anywhere, in clay-loam, loam, or sandy soil.


Description

Richardson's alumroot is a neat, rounded plant with broad, basal leaves that grow in a rosette low to the ground. The flowers are not showy, ranging from inconspicuous green and cream colours to pink and purple, but the tall (up to 60 cm) stems provide a nice airy contrast to the leaves. The yellowish seed heads also provide visual interest throughout the summer. 

The leaves turn an eye-catching red in the late summer and fall, and stick around until the following year.

Alumroot is an extremely easy-to-grow, low maintenance plant that is adaptable to nearly any garden conditions, from sunny and dry to moist and shady.

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