American alumroot is a small, mounding herbaceous perennial in the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae) with attractive foliage color. It is widespread in eastern North America, where it is found growing in rocky forests and rock outcrops, particularly where soils are acidic. The species epithet is Latin for “American.” Plant in moist, rich soils in shade to part sun. Clumps should be divided every 3 to 4 years in spring or fall. American alumroot has fibrous roots and a mounded rosette of attractive foliage highlighted with colorful veins or marbling. The leaves emerge in a dense spiral from a short central crown and can be green or variegated in shades of purple, bronze or cream. Flower panicles emerge in the spring on leafless stalks above the foliage. The individual tiny flowers are bell-shaped with extended stamens and are greenish or creamy with a pinkish tint. Botanists recognize three varieties of American alumroot, which are difficult to distinguish from one another; nevertheless, these varieties are sometimes elevated to the rank of species. American alumroot has been used as a component of modern hybrids to lend hardiness, vigor and color. Cultivars are readily available, and it may be difficult to find the pure, wild-type species in the trade. American alumroot is drought-tolerant and works well planted in small groups in the front of a border, along pathways, near a patio, in a woodland, rock, rain or shade garden. The foliage is high in tannins, giving it a bitter taste and making it unappetizing to deer. This plant was selected as the 1999 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. More information on Heuchera .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches; 12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping
Texture
Medium
Leaf color
Green
Leaf arrangement
Alternate; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Orbicular
Leaf margin
Crenate; Doubly Crenate
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Each leaf has a long stalk and grows from the base of the plant; 7 to 9 shallowly lobed, toothed and heart-shaped leaves; 3 to 4 inches wide
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Flower color
Cream/Tan; Green; Orange; Purple/Lavender
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Panicle
Flower shape
Bell
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The flowering stalk is 1 to 2 feet tall and almost leafless. Small greenish-purple bell-shaped flowers droop from short branching stems. The stamens are tipped with orange anthers. In North Carolina, the cream-colored flowers are available from April to August.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
In North Carolina, the fruits appear from May to September.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
native to eastern and central North America, from Ontario
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Heuchera support the following specialized bee: Colletes aestivalis. Bees and other pollinating insects enjoy the nectar from the flowers.