Coral bells is an erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial in the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae) native to Arizona, New Mexico and northern Mexico. The species epithet is Latin for 'blood red' and refers to the color of the flowers. Plant it in the full sun to partial shade in well-drained soil with high organic content. It is intolerant of clay soils. Water it well during dry periods and remove spent flower stalks to encourage flowering. This plant is appreciated for its interesting green, heart-shaped or roundish leaves, and its upright panicles of tiny bright pink to red flowers, which appear in late spring and last through early summer. The flowers are a nectar source for bees and hummingbirds. Use this plant for edging, along border fronts, or massing as ground cover. It also works well as an accent in a shady part of the landscape. Use it in a cottage garden, shade garden, winter garden, rock garden or children's garden. Quick ID Hints : Acaulescent herb with heart- to kidney-shaped leaves Tall scapes with small, red, bell-shaped flowers Inflorescences slender, branched, narrow and overtopping the leaves Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Mealybug, strawberry root weevil and root rot are the main 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.
Often confused withAstilbe x arendsiiHeuchera villosaPelargonium x hybridum
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
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 7 in. | Width: 0 ft. 9 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
A narrow racemose panicle of small cymes well over-topping leaves; one main elongated, erect, tall axis; lateral branches short, several-flowered; bracts red. Small, bright red, pink or white; sepals ovate-deltoid; corolla campanulate, ¼ to ¾ of an inch long, lobes minute.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Southwestern United States
Distribution
cliffs, hills and alpine areas in New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico
Wildlife value
Members of the genus Heuchera support the following specialized bee: Colletes aestivalis. Nectar in the flowers support hummingbirds. Tannins in the foliage makes this plant unappetizing to deer and rabbits.
Attracts
Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Specialized Bees
Food & Medicine
Uses (ethnobotany)
It has been used medicinally to shrink tissues in nose bleeds, sore throats, ulcers and piles by Native Peoples due to its astringent qualities.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Slope/Bank; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden; Shade Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#specialized bees #nectar plant #rabbit resistant #deer resistant #pink flowers #red flowers #hummingbird friendly #pollinator plant #clumping #heat tolerant #showy flowers #drought tolerant #fragrant flowers #well-drained soil #fantz #spring interest #summer flowers #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #full sun tolerant #partial shade tolerant #bee friendly #nectar plant late spring #mass planting #nectar plant early summer #border front #perennial #wildlife friendly #clay soils intolerant #fpp
Problems & Resistance
Disease problems
Phytophthora Blight and Root Rot on Annuals and Herbaceous Perennials