Companion Plants for Coral Bells: 15 Perfect Pairings for Your Garden

Coral bells, also known as heuchera, are a popular shade-loving perennial prized for their low-maintenance nature and colorful foliage. Their bell-shaped blooms attract hummingbirds and butterflies, providing multi-season interest in the garden. With so many gorgeous leaf colors like crimson, peach and lime green, it’s easy to make coral bells the star of your landscape. But every star needs a great supporting cast!

In this article, we’ll explore the top companion plants for coral bells to help you design an eye-catching shade garden. We’ll also share tips on caring for heuchera so your plants thrive.

An Overview of Growing Coral Bells

Before choosing companion plants it’s helpful to understand coral bells’ preferred growing conditions.

Coral bells thrive in zones 4-9 and do best in well-drained, humus-rich soil that is slightly acidic Filtered sunlight or light shade is ideal, as the foliage color fades in too much sun Provide ample moisture, especially in hot, dry weather.

Plant coral bells in spring or fall spacing about 12-18 inches apart. Apply a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring. Cut back old foliage in late winter to encourage fresh growth. Deadhead spent blooms to promote reblooming.

With proper care, coral bells are remarkably tough, surviving heat, humidity, drought and poor soil. Their versatile forms and colors make them ideal companions to many other plants.

15 Perfect Companion Plants for Coral Bells

Here are some of the best pairings for coral bells to help you design a spectacular shade garden:

1. Hostas

Hostas are a classic companion for coral bells, thriving in the same growing conditions. Their broad leaves act as a living mulch to retain moisture. Hostas also help discourage nibbling critters who may eat coral bells. Choose from many leaf shapes, sizes and variegations to complement your heuchera.

2. Astilbes

Astilbes produce fluffy, feathery plumes that make a lovely textural contrast to coral bells’ bell-shaped blooms. Their ferny foliage fills space between plants. Astilbes come in white, pink, red and purple for multi-season interest.

3. Japanese Painted Ferns

The ornate gray and silver patterns on Japanese painted fern fronds pair elegantly with colorful heuchera leaves. Both spread gracefully, mixing well in woodland gardens. Their lacy texture contrasts the rounded coral bell leaves.

4. Lungworts

Lungworts bloom very early, extending the garden season. The gray-green leaves are spotted white like splattered paint. After blooming, the foliage complements coral bell’s flowers. Lungworts spread nicely, filling in empty spaces.

5. Foamflowers

Also called tiarellas, foamflowers produce fluffy flower spikes resembling ocean foam. Their leaves resemble coral bells, but the flowers are very different. Foamflower’s blooms add whimsical contrast in shade gardens.

6. Goatsbeards

Goatsbeard has fern-like leaves and tall, fluffy white blooms. A native plant, it attracts pollinators. Goatsbeard dies back after blooming. Underplant with coral bells to fill the bare space with foliage and late summer color.

7. Brunneras

Brunneras are called Siberian bugloss. They have silver leaves veined with green that shimmer in shade gardens. Forget-me-not-like blooms emerge in spring. The contrasting foliage and flowers pair gorgeously with coral bells.

8. Sedges

Sedges are grassy perennials that thrive in moist shade. Try Pennsylvania sedge’s graceful arching form or variegated forms. The fine texture complements heuchera’s rounder leaves. Sedges help suppress weeds and spread nicely.

9. Hellebores

Hellebores bloom very early, often when snow is still on the ground! Plant them near coral bells to extend your garden’s bloom season. Hellebore’s thick evergreen foliage remains attractive all year in zones 6-9.

10. Impatiens

Shade-loving impatiens come in a rainbow of colors to brighten up dim areas. Their abundant flowers contrast beautifully with coral bells foliage. Choose from pink, red, white, purple and more. New Guinea impatiens add exotic flair.

11. Ferns

Beyond Japanese painted fern, consider other types of ferns like autumn fern, lady fern or Christmas fern. Their lacy fronds contrast the rounded leaves of coral bells. Let them fill in bare spots to act as a lush green backdrop.

12. Grasses

Try compact ornamental grasses like hakonechloa, carex and juncus. Their slender blades provide fantastic texture paired with coral bells. Grasses come in green, gold, variegated and more to complement heuchera.

13. Vines

Trailing vines like ivy, ajuga or lamium spread nicely around coral bells. They act as a living mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Vines spill gracefully over edges of beds and containers for a softening effect.

14. Geraniums

Hardy geraniums like Rozanne do well in part shade. Their mounding form and colorful blooms contrast wonderfully with coral bells. Cranesbill geraniums are long blooming and spread nicely. Stagger with heuchera for months of color.

15. Azaleas & Rhododendrons

In warmer zones (6-9), azaleas and rhododendrons thrive alongside coral bells. Their large blooms stand out beautifully contrasting heuchera’s low mounds. Plant them as specimen shrubs and underplant with your favorite coral bells.

Designing With Coral Bells Companion Plants

When planning beds and borders, keep foliage color, texture, height and bloom time in mind.

Combine silver, purple and chartreuse leaves with heuchera for stunning contrast. Use fine-textured ferns and grasses to contrast bold-leaved hostas.

Plant early bloomers like hellebores and lungworts to extend floral display. Include late summer bloomers like astilbes and geraniums to keep color coming after coral bells bloom.

Place larger plants like azaleas in the background to act as a backdrop for low-growing heuchera near the front of the border.

In containers, use trailing plants like ivy to soften edges and spill gracefully over the sides along with coral bells.

Caring for Your Shade Garden

Here are some tips for success with your coral bells companion plants:

• Use organic fertilizer and compost to enrich soil nutrients. Avoid over-fertilizing.

• Water thoroughly during drought. Mulch to retain moisture. Group plants with similar needs.

• Prune away damaged foliage. Cut back perennials in late fall allow new growth to emerge.

• Divide overcrowded clumps in spring or fall to rejuvenate growth. Transplant divisions or share with friends!

• Watch for slugs and snails. Remove by hand or use organic bait. Ensure good drainage and air flow.

• Weed carefully by hand to avoid damaging shallow roots. Maintain a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch.

Achieve Multi-Season Appeal in Shady Gardens

With their versatility, low-maintenance nature and lasting beauty, coral bells are a wonderful foundation plant for shade gardens. Combine them with hostas, astilbes, ferns and other easy-care companion plants suggested here to create a lush, welcoming oasis of color. Pay attention to foliage, texture and bloom time as you design for long-lasting appeal. With the right plant pairings, your landscape will flourish in shade!

Yes, coral bells (Heuchera) can spread, but not in a way that makes them invasive. They tend to form neat mounds, spreading outward as they mature, typically reaching a width of 1-3 feet. They don’t spread by rhizomes or stolons in the same way that some other groundcover plants do.