Species alum root

alum root

Heuchera richardsonii

Alum root (Heuchera richardsonii) is an evergreen perennial native to the western United States. It features a rosette of lobed basal foliage in shades of green, maroon, purple, or bronze. The tiny, bell-shaped, creamy-white flowers are borne on long, slender stems above the foliage mound. The flowers typically bloom in mid- to late spring. Alum root prefers a bright location and acidic soil. Pruning is typically not necessary with this hardy plant, but it will benefit from deadheading if desired. It is drought and deer tolerant and makes a great choice for a xeriscape garden!

Cycle:

Herbaceous Perennial

Watering:

Minimum

Propagation:

Division,Cutting,Seed Propagation,Layering Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 9

Flowers:

Green Flowers

Sun:

Full sun,part shade

Soil:

Sandy Loamy Rocky

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

silver,bronze,green,purple

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

For optimal health and growth, Alum Root should be watered regularly, about 1-2 inches per week, and should not be left to dry out. Water deeply to ensure that the entire root system is getting enough moisture. Make sure to avoid overhead watering in order to prevent fungal issues from becoming a problem. During summer and dry months, try to water at least once a week, depending on temperature, humidity, and the amount of sunlight the plant is receiving. In the winter, however, watering can be backed off a bit, as this species does not require as much moisture when temperatures are cooler.

sunlight

Alum root requires full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight) in the summer months for the plant to thrive. In the winter months, alum root can tolerate a bit less sun but it should still get at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight. During hot summer months, however, too much direct sunlight can damage the leaves of alum root, making it more susceptible to diseases. Therefore, avoiding midday sun during the hottest months and making sure the plant has some shade during the hotter parts of the day is important.

pruning

Alum Root (Heuchera richardsonii) should be pruned back in late spring or early summer, once the plant has finished flowering. Prune the plant lightly, removing dead and overgrown stems, as well as any leaves that appear diseased or discolored. Be sure to take off no more than 1/3 of the total foliage at 1 time or the plant may become too stressed. For slower growing plants, reduce pruning to once every 2 or 3 years.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Heuchera richardsonii typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Heuchera richardsonii typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map