Heuchera is a versatile perennial, with attractive foliage and bell-shaped flowers. Also known as coral bells, they offer an array of colors and forms, multi-seasonal interest and long bloom time. Grow them in a shade garden or in pots.
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Coral bells, also known as heuchera, are a popular perennial known for their low-maintenance nature and brightly colored foliage. Their leaves come in a diverse range of hues like deep purples, rich reds, bright greens, and vibrant oranges. Mid-spring, coral bells produce tall, delicate flower spikes that look beautiful in cut flower arrangements and attract hummingbirds.
With their versatility and easy care requirements, coral bells make a lovely companion plant to accentuate other flowers and foliage in your garden. When paired with the right plants, they can brighten up any shady spot.
In this article we will explore some of the best companion plants for coral bells and what makes them such a perfect match.
Companion Plants with Similar Growing Conditions
One of the easiest ways to choose coral bell companion plants is to select ones with similar growing conditions. Finding plants that thrive in the same soil, sunlight, and moisture levels takes the guesswork out of creating a cohesive garden that flourishes together.
Astilbe
Astilbe is one of the best companions for coral bells in the shade garden. It thrives in the same evenly moist, well-drained soil. Its large feathery plumes elegantly contrast against the tall delicate flowers of coral bells. The texture adds nice dimension to the garden. Astilbe blooms in a range of pink, red, purple, and white that coordinates well with coral bells foliage.
Hostas
Hostas are a quintessential coral bell companion, especially since they share ideal growing conditions. Planting hostas and coral bells together creates a lush, low maintenance garden that looks great from spring through fall. The bold hosta leaves pair nicely with the brightly colored coral bells foliage.
Ferns
Ferns like the ever-popular Japanese painted fern grow well with coral bells Both spread nicely as groundcovers and their arching fronds contrast beautifully with coral bells’ rounded leaves They make great companions in woodland-style shade gardens.
Lungwort
Lungwort is another coral bell companion that thrives in the same conditions – evenly moist soil and partial to full shade. Its silver-green foliage with dark spots adds nice contrast to coral bells when planted together. Lungwort’s blue or pink spring flowers complement coral bells blooms.
Companion Plants for Added Height
While coral bells stay low to the ground, pairing them with taller plants can add depth and dimension to your garden. Position the taller plants behind coral bells so they don’t overshadow them.
Iris
Iris makes a lovely coral bell companion with its sword-like upright foliage and showy blooms on tall stems that rise above coral bells’ low mounds. You get fun color from iris’ purple, blue, yellow, and white blooms combined with coral bells vivid foliage.
Astilbe
In addition to having similar needs, astilbe’s plume-like blooms on tall stems add nice height variation when planted with low-growing coral bells. The flowers tend to bloom at the same time for a cohesive look.
Goatsbeard
Goatsbeard is a native perennial that can provide airy height behind coral bells. Its tall, feather-like white blooms look ethereal and attract pollinators. Plant coral bells in front of goatsbeard to highlight its dramatically colored leaves.
Companion Plants for Early Bloom
Some coral bell pairings can extend your garden’s bloom season by weeks when you combine early bloomers together.
Hellebores
Hellebores are a classic early spring bloomer, showing off their nodding, bell-shaped flowers sometimes as early as late winter. Their thick evergreen foliage persists when coral bells emerge and begin blooming later in spring.
Lungwort
Lungwort is another early spring bloomer. Its blue, pink, or white flowers complement the coral bells blooms that begin a few weeks later. You’ll get months of coordinated color.
Companion Plants with Contrasting Foliage
Playing with different leaf colors, shapes, and textures helps highlight the unique foliage coral bells provide. Contrasting leaves also helps tone down colorful coral bells so they don’t clash.
Brunnera
Brunnera’s perforated silver leaves with dark green veining pair gorgeously with coral bells foliage. The leaves have a completely different form than coral bells for added interest. Tiny blue forget-me-not flowers are an extra bonus.
Japanese Painted Ferns
Japanese painted ferns contrast coral bells well with their lacy fronds and silver markings on green leaves. The fern’s arching habit contrasts nicely with coral bells’ rounded shape.
Hostas
Hosta’s wide, bold leaves come in various hues like blue, green, gold, and variegated forms. Their shiny leaves pair beautifully with the more matte finish of coral bells foliage for added dimension.
Companion Shrubs for Structure
Pairing coral bells with small shrubs can provide structure and a backdrop for the lower perennials. Many also offer early season blooms.
Azaleas
Azaleas and coral bells bloom around the same time, allowing you to coordinate their colors. Azaleas offer larger rounded shrubs with evergreen foliage as a backdrop for coral bells’ vivid leaves closer to the ground.
Dwarf Rhododendrons
Dwarf rhododendrons provide structure with their mounded form and big flower heads. Plant coral bells around the shrub’s base to hide bare lower stems while allowing the flowers to take center stage. Foliage and blooms can be color coordinated.
Compact Hydrangeas
Hydrangeas are a classic pairing with coral bells. Their large, showy blooms complement coral bells’ delicate flowers. Compact varieties create full, rounded flowering shrubs above the low-growing coral bells.
Best Annual Companions
Annuals allow you to change up companion plants each year and match colors to your coral bells. Many also do well in partial shade.
Begonias
Begonias are perfect for pairing in containers with coral bells. Their colorful, abundant blooms and attractive foliage spill gracefully over container edges. Upright coral bells contrast nicely.
Caladiums
Caladiums love the same growing conditions as coral bells and their foliage provides similar drama. Combine their white-veined, heart-shaped leaves with coral bells’ rounded foliage for dimension.
Impatiens
Impatiens thrive in shade and come in a wide range of colors to complement coral bells – purple, red, pink, white, orange. Let their colorful, abundant blooms brighten up the shade garden.
When pairing companions with coral bells, focus on plants that enjoy the same growing conditions: partial sun and evenly moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil. Combining early bloomers extends the color show and contrasting leaves creates more diversity. With the right companions, coral bells can make any shady garden shine.
VARIETIES OF CORAL BELLS
Proven Winners® coral bells come in a wide range of foliage colors, patterns and shapes. Try these in your garden:
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Primo® ‘Black Pearl’ is similar to ‘Obsidian’, but with darker purple-black coloring. Ruffled leaves set off dainty flowers with pink buds that open to snow-white. Makes a sophisticated accent in a pot, or at the front of a sunny border. |
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Dolce® ‘Wildberry’ looks similar to ‘Forever Purple’, but holds its intense purple coloring better throughout the growing season. Use as a container accent or mass in a sunny border for a bright splash of color. |
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Primo® ‘Peachberry Ice’ has striking ruffled apricot-orange leaves with pink undersides. Bright new growth mellows in summer to complement the cream flowers. Use this low spreader as a groundcover to illuminate shady woodland borders. |
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Primo® ‘Wild Rose’ sports rose-red flowers and rich purple-red leaves with charcoal-gray veining. Place alongside gold-foliaged plants to lend striking contrast in a mixed border. |
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Dolce® ‘Silver Gumdrop’ has semi-glossy silver veined leaves that develop a rosy blush overtone later in the season. Vibrant pink flowers that bloom in mid-summer stand out against the elegant foliage. Use to brighten up a shady border. |
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Dolce® ‘Toffee Tart’ has rich amber new growth that fades to ginger to complement the creamy white flowers. Similar to ‘Caramel’, it’s more fade- and burn-resistant. The diminutive size is suitable for container combinations or pathway edging. |
HOW TO USE CORAL BELLS IN YOUR LANDSCAPE
Coral bells can be used in many ways. Here are a few ideas:
- Place in groups of 3 or 5 at the front of a mixed border next to other complementary colored plants
- Mass as a low-maintenance groundcover along a slope
- Plant alongside a pathway
- Choose a variety that matches your house, patio furniture or other key landscape component for repetitive color
- Lighten up shady areas with brightly colored varieties such as Dolce® ‘Appletini’ or Primo® ‘Peachberry Ice’
- Plant in a rock garden in combination with alpines and succulents
- Naturalize in a woodland setting with natives and other shade lovers
- Plant in a smaller container as a stand-alone accent
- Combine in a container with other perennials or annuals
CORAL BELLS (Heuchera spp.) – Where to Plant & How to Grow
FAQ
What plant pairs well with coral bells?
- Astilbe. We adore how the large fluffy plumes from astilbe contrast the tall, delicate flowers from coral bells and add texture to the shade garden. …
- Rhododendron. Looking for a statement shrub to pair with your coral bells in a garden hedge? …
- Japanese Painted Fern.
What looks good with heuchera?
Do coral bells like full sun or shade?
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Part Shade:Coral bells are most known for their ability to thrive in shade, making them a popular choice for shady gardens.
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Full Sun:While they can handle full sun, they may require more watering to prevent leaf scorch.
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Full Shade:They can grow in full shade, but may take longer to reach their full size compared to plants in brighter conditions.
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Varieties:Different varieties of coral bells have varying sun tolerances. For example, dark-leaved varieties may be more sun-tolerant than those with lighter or pale foliage.
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Location:In warmer climates, providing afternoon shade is beneficial, especially for varieties with vivid colors.
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Maintenance:Coral bells generally require well-drained soil and regular watering, especially in full sun or when newly planted.
Should you cut back coral bells in the fall?
Pruning coral bells in the early spring can prevent the plant from crowding new growth. In late fall, you can remove yellow or dead leaves and spent stems. You can also prune coral bells after flowers have bloomed to encourage leaf production.