Heuchera, commonly known as Coral Bells, is a perennial plant prized primarily for its colorful, often ruffled foliage rather than its flowers. These mounding plants introduce a spectrum of color, ranging from deep burgundy and lime green to silver and caramel, into garden spaces. Selecting successful companion plants relies on matching their shared environmental needs and their contrasting or complementary aesthetic appeal.
Heuchera’s Environmental Needs
The foundation of any successful Heuchera pairing is ensuring the companion plant shares its specific growing requirements. Heuchera is generally hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 9, but sun tolerance depends on leaf color. Lighter-colored varieties, such as yellows or silvers, require partial to full shade to prevent leaf scorch, while darker leaves, like deep purples, can handle more direct sun.
All varieties perform best in well-drained, fertile soil that contains ample organic matter. Heuchera needs consistent moisture but is highly intolerant of waterlogged conditions, particularly over winter, which can lead to crown rot. The ideal soil pH is slightly acidic to neutral, typically ranging from 5.5 to 7.0.
Foliage and Texture Companions
Pairing Heuchera with other foliage-centric plants maximizes visual interest and texture contrast, offering garden color that lasts all season. Hostas are a natural companion, featuring large, smooth, or heavily textured leaves that contrast dramatically with the typically smaller, ruffled Heuchera foliage. A blue or variegated Hosta provides an excellent color counterpoint to a chartreuse or deep purple Heuchera, highlighting the unique color of each plant.
Ferns introduce a delicate, airy texture that softens the bold, rounded shapes of Coral Bells. The finely dissected, lacy fronds of plants like the Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum ‘Pictum’) offer an elegant contrast, often echoing the Heuchera’s coloring with silvery-gray and burgundy tones. Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra) is another option, providing a fine-bladed, cascading form that flows beautifully around the mounding Heuchera crowns.
For a groundcover effect, consider Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla), which features large, heart-shaped leaves, often speckled with silver variegation. This plant creates a lush, spreading carpet that contrasts with the tight, mounding habit of Heuchera. Ajuga reptans, particularly cultivars with deep bronze or purple leaves, can be used as a low-growing filler, providing a dark, glossy background to lighter Heuchera varieties.
Flowering and Structural Companions
To introduce verticality and strong structural elements, select companions known for their height and distinctive flowers. Astilbe is an excellent choice, as its tall, feathery plumes introduce a vertical, cloud-like texture that contrasts with the Coral Bells’ horizontal form. Both plants require the same moist, well-drained soil. The Astilbe’s dense flower spikes, which bloom in shades of white, pink, or red, rise high above the Heuchera’s foliage, adding color and dimension.
Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabilis) is a striking, early-season companion known for its arching stems holding delicate, heart-shaped flowers. This plant provides a bold, upright structure early in the spring, and its deeply lobed leaves offer a contrasting texture before it fades into dormancy in the summer heat.
Foamflower (Tiarella) is another option for strong verticality and color, sharing a genus with Heuchera and thriving in the same shady, woodland conditions. Tiarella sends up airy, upright spikes of white or pink flowers that stand taller than the Heuchera’s own blooms, providing an effective structural lift.