Top 10 Shade Tolerant Coral Bells Varieties
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Discover why these fabulous, easy to grow, shade tolerant coral bells varieties are some of the best-kept secrets in the garden.
Once you start growing coral bells, you won’t be able to stop. Yet they are among the most underused plants in the garden. These charmers (also known as heucheras) are shade tolerant, their foliage is striking and their blooms attract hummingbirds. Trust me: You’re going to wonder how you ever got along without these powerhouse plants. There are dozens of varieties of coral bells out there, so think of this list as a starting point. Once you figure out what you’re drawn to—orange leaves, red blooms, variegated foliage—start looking around for more. The sheer number of options will blow you away, and then you can start spreading the news to others!
Check out 18 fabulous foliage plants for garden pizzazz.
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Blackberry Ice
Zones 4-9
This reddish-purple variety is part of the popular heat-tolerant Dolce series. Take a close look at the leaves, and you’ll see black veining. While some heucheras bloom in spring, this one shows off pretty white blossoms in midsummer.
More dark foliage: Chocolate Ruffles, Lava Lamp
Check out the top 10 dark colored flowers that are almost black.
Berry Smoothie
Zones 4-8
The foliage starts off rose-pink but darkens to a purplish shade as the summer goes on. The light pink blooms start in late spring; if you keep deadheading them, you should get flowers all summer long. Grow in partial shade and keep the plants well watered, especially when you’re trying to get them established.
More burgundy picks: Plum Pudding, Bella Notte
Citronelle
Zones 4-8
If heat tolerance is a requirement for your plants, this is one of the best coral bells for you. The lime-green foliage alone will turn heads. Grow this one in partial shade for best results.
More lime-green picks: Electric Lime, Pistache, Lime Marmalade
We found 10 gorgeous green flowers for your garden.
Gold Zebra
Zones 4-9
This whimsically named heuchera gives you two dramatic foliage colors for the price of one: Its bright yellow leaves, scalloped at the edges, boast dark red centers. Gold Zebra performed like a champ during testing in hot, humid Oklahoma summers. Be sure to plant it in at least partial shade.
More variegated picks: Solar Eclipse, Ring of Fire
Grow croton plants for year-round fall foliage.
Caramel
Zones 4-8
Here’s another one that can really withstand the summer heat! It can stand up to sunny locations, but it will do best if you can offer it some shady relief and sufficient moisture, especially in the afternoon. Around midsummer, look for soft pink blooms shooting up from the rich caramel foliage.
More caramel-colored picks: Christa, Buttered Rum
Check out the top golden plants to make your garden glow.
Peppermint Spice
Zones 4-9
Many gardeners consider Peppermint Spice the perfect coral bell cultivar, with its gorgeous rose-pink blossoms—what many think of when they picture heucheras—and silvery-green foliage. Expect flowers to open in summer and plants to grow 8-10 inches tall.
More red blooms: Ruby Bells, Berry Timeless
Green Spice
Zones 4-9
Here’s another heuchera with really cool veined foliage, plus flashes of silver. In colder weather, the veins have a purple cast. The little white flowers will appear in late spring or early summer.
More top leaf picks: Cinnamon Curls, Brass Lantern
Midnight Rose
Zones 4-9
Love dramatic foliage? You can’t go wrong with the black leaves of this one. They start off very dark, with tiny specks of pink that get bigger and paler as the season goes on. At just 10 inches high, this cultivar has a low, mounding growth habit.
More black foliage: Obsidian, Brazen Raisin
For more vibrant foliage, check out the top 10 colorful coleus varieties.
Amber Waves
Zones 3-8
This one’s a prizewinner, having grabbed a “best new plant” award in 2001, and it’s not hard to see why. You get lovely copper foliage, ruffled leaves, pink buds and cream-colored blooms.
More award winners: Stormy Seas, Melting Fire, Quilter’s Joy
Hollywood
Zones 4-9
Most people grow heuchera for the foliage, but Hollywood is proof that this plant deserves applause for its flowers, too. Hummingbirds love coral bells, and the bright red blooms of this one will have them flocking to your yard. The foliage is nice, too: dark with a touch of silver and scalloped edges.
More delectable blooms: Heucherella Dayglow Pink, Heucherella Honey Rose
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Originally Published: February 24, 2022
