Coralbells ‘Bronze Wave’
* Common name: Coralbells ‘Bronze Wave’
Credit: North Creek Nurseries
* Botanical name: Heuchera villosa ‘Bronze Wave’
* What it is: A native perennial flower grown mainly for its wide, sycamore-like leaves of glossy bronze-green. ‘Bronze Wave’ is one of the larger coralbells and also produces a good display of creamy-white flower spikes from late June to late summer. One of the best-performing coralbells in Delaware-based Mt. Cuba Center’s recent 3-year coralbells trial.
* Size: Foliage grows 18 inches tall and nearly 3 feet across with flowers extending the height up to 30 inches.
* Where to use: Along north or eastern foundations, under trees, or in any shade to part-shade mixed garden. Best in shade, dappled light or in a site that gets morning sun but afternoon shade.
* Care: Keep damp the first season, then water usually not needed except in droughts. Scatter balanced organic granular fertilizer over the bed in early spring. Snip off flower stems after bloom. Cut ratty leaves at end of winter but don’t cut into the crowns (the fleshy part just above the ground where the leaves emerge). Tired leaves also can removed in late summer to make way for fresh growth in early fall.
* Great partner: Liriope is a good dry-shade-tolerant spiky partner under trees. Golden spirea ‘Ogon’ is a good color and texture shrub neighbor.