If you’re looking to add long-lasting color and texture to your garden, Coral Bells (Heuchera) are a brilliant choice. These low-maintenance perennials are grown primarily for their eye-catching foliage, which comes in an astonishing range of colors — from rich purples and fiery oranges to lime greens and silvery tones. Perfect for garden borders, shaded beds, or container displays, Coral Bells offer year-round interest and delicate summer blooms that attract pollinators. Let’s explore nine stunning varieties known for their vibrant, colorful leaves.
1. Heuchera ‘Caramel’
Heuchera ‘Caramel’ is loved for its warm, inviting tones of apricot, caramel, and peachy-orange foliage. The leaves emerge with a glowing pinkish hue in spring before maturing to golden caramel shades in summer. It thrives in partial shade and well-drained soil, adding a soft, cozy look to woodland gardens or shaded borders. Tiny cream-colored flowers bloom on tall stalks in summer, attracting hummingbirds and bees. Its heat tolerance and beautiful coloring make ‘Caramel’ a standout in any foliage-focused planting scheme.
2. Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’
Bright and refreshing, Heuchera ‘Lime Rickey’ brings a burst of vivid lime-green color to shaded and partially sunny spots. Its ruffled, scalloped leaves create a lively, almost glowing effect, perfect for pairing with darker foliage or purple-flowered plants. In early summer, delicate white flowers rise above the foliage on slender stems. This variety is particularly heat and humidity-tolerant, making it ideal for warmer gardens. ‘Lime Rickey’ is perfect for brightening up shady corners, pathways, or container arrangements.
3. Heuchera ‘Obsidian’
For deep, dramatic color, Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ is a showstopper. Its glossy, jet-black foliage stands out beautifully against green or pastel plants, creating bold contrast in any garden setting. The nearly-black leaves retain their color throughout the growing season, providing lasting impact. In late spring to early summer, small white flowers bloom on wiry stems, adding a delicate touch to the striking foliage. ‘Obsidian’ is a favorite for modern garden designs, rock gardens, or elegant mixed borders.
4. Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’
Heuchera ‘Plum Pudding’ is a timeless favorite, adored for its rich, silvery-plum foliage with deep purple undersides. The rounded, slightly ruffled leaves have a soft, velvety texture and hold their color beautifully from spring through fall. Tiny, bell-shaped white flowers appear in summer, adding subtle charm to its dramatic foliage. This versatile variety grows well in both sun and partial shade and pairs wonderfully with silver, chartreuse, or green-leaved companions. It’s perfect for cottage gardens, shaded beds, or patio containers.
5. Heuchera ‘Marmalade’
For a fiery splash of color, look no further than Heuchera ‘Marmalade’. Its foliage ranges from deep amber to coppery orange and rose hues, often with striking darker veining. The leaves take on slightly different shades depending on the season and light exposure, offering year-round visual interest. Pale pinkish-white flowers rise on slender stalks in late spring to early summer. ‘Marmalade’ thrives in both sun and partial shade, adding warmth and vibrancy to mixed borders, woodland gardens, and decorative pots.
6. Heuchera ‘Berry Smoothie’
As delightful as its name suggests, Heuchera ‘Berry Smoothie’ features large, bold leaves in shades of bright berry-pink that deepen to rich rose tones as the season progresses. Its dramatic coloring makes it a focal point in shady or semi-sunny areas. This vigorous grower blooms in summer with delicate, creamy-white flowers. ‘Berry Smoothie’ performs well in heat and humidity, retaining its color throughout the growing season. It’s a great companion for silver, lime, or dark-leaved plants in both garden beds and containers.
7. Heuchera ‘Green Spice’
Heuchera ‘Green Spice’ is known for its unique blend of silvery-green foliage adorned with bold, dark burgundy veining. In cooler weather, the leaves may take on a soft blush tint, adding extra seasonal interest. Its contrasting colors create a sophisticated, painterly effect that enhances shaded borders, woodland gardens, and pathway edges. Delicate white flowers appear in mid to late summer. ‘Green Spice’ pairs beautifully with ferns, hostas, and other shade-loving plants, offering texture and color in lower-light spots.
8. Heuchera ‘Electric Lime’
If you crave bold, high-voltage color, Heuchera ‘Electric Lime’ won’t disappoint. Its intense, neon-yellow to chartreuse leaves practically glow in the garden, providing instant brightness to shaded areas. The slightly lobed leaves form a dense, tidy mound, topped with tiny white flowers in late spring to early summer. This variety thrives in partial shade but tolerates morning sun as well. ‘Electric Lime’ looks fantastic when contrasted with deep purples, blacks, or blues and adds an energetic pop to borders and containers.
9. Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’
Heuchera ‘Fire Chief’ delivers year-round color with its bright, ruby-red foliage that deepens into wine tones in cooler months. This long-blooming variety also produces sprays of tiny, pinkish-white flowers for several months, adding softness to its bold leaves. ‘Fire Chief’ thrives in sun to partial shade and adapts well to a variety of soils as long as they’re well-draining. Its compact, tidy form makes it perfect for edging, mass planting, or brightening up containers with rich, warm tones.
Conclusion
With their endless array of leaf colors, textures, and shapes, Coral Bells are an essential choice for any gardener looking to add foliage drama and multi-season interest. From the rich blacks of ‘Obsidian’ to the sunny glow of ‘Electric Lime’ and the berry-bright leaves of ‘Berry Smoothie,’ there’s a Heuchera variety to suit every color palette and garden style. Mix and match these beauties in your shaded or partially sunny spaces and enjoy a landscape alive with color, texture, and charm.