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Herbaceous Perennial

Heuchera 'Velvet Night'

alum root 'Velvet Night'

A clump-forming perennial to about 30cm high, forming a mound of lobed, velvety purple leaves with a slight silver sheen on the upper surface, and darker purple veining. Loose sprays of very small white flowers are held on slender stems above the foliage, from late spring into summer

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Saxifragaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Semi evergreen
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Heuchera are more or less evergreen, clump-forming perennials with attractive, rounded, shallowly palmately lobed leaves and racemes or panicles of small, tubular flowers, often with colourful calyces
Name status: Accepted

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a fertile, neutral soil in light or partial shade, and ensure good drainage, especially in heavy soils. The woody rootstock tends to lift out of the ground over time, so mulch annually to retain moisture. Divide and replant every 3-4 years to maintain vigour

Propagation

Propagate by division in autumn

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Garden edging
Ground cover
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Remove faded flower spikes

Pests

May be susceptible to leaf and bud eelworm and vine weevil

Diseases

May be susceptible to heuchera rust and leafy gall

Get involved

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