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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima) |
Sitting
in the shade on a hot summer’s day allows us to really experience our native
shade-loving species. Many are pretty
and have unusual foliage, adding to their allure. One plant that’s been a shade garden staple
for many years is the Island alumroot, Heuchera
maxima. The scientific name is most
commonly pronounced HER (or
HOY)-ker-uh MAX-im-uh.
The
Heucheras are an interesting group of herbaceous perennials in the Saxifrage Family
(the Saxifragaceae). Members of this family generally grow in
moist shady places; they are often used similarly in gardens. Among the California saxifrages are the Boykinias, Heucheras, Jepsonias, Lithophragmas, Micranthas, Suksdorfias, Tellimas and Tolmieas. Of these, the genus with the most species is Heuchera.
The
Saxifrages share a number of common features.
Most have rounded or heart-shaped leaves that grow in a mound at the
base of the plant (a basal rosette). Most are perennials, dying back to a stout
root in winter. The flowers grow in
stalks above the leaves. Some have
medicinal properties, and have been so used. And most grow in forests or riparian areas,
often in shade.
Thirteen
species of Heuchera are native to
California. They belong to three groups:
those that are primarily coastal, those from far northern California, and those
from the mountains (including the Transverse and Laguna Ranges of S. California). Many Heuchera
species have very limited ranges, and several are listed as endangered. We featured the Seaside alumroot in May: http://mother-natures-backyard.blogspot.com/2018/05/plant-of-month-may-seaside-alumroot.html
Heuchera maxima is one of the coastal species. It’s native to the Northern Channel Islands,
off the coast of Santa Barbara. In the wilds, it grows in moist, shady,
north-facing sites, often in canyons or on ocean cliffs. Island alumroot is a member of the chaparral
plant community; it always grows at elevations less than 1500 ft. (500 m.) in
nature. Fortunately, it’s available to California gardeners and widely used in
gardens in warmer climates (USDA Zones 8-10).
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): foliage |
All
the Heucheras have pretty, rounded leaves and Heuchera maxima is no exception. Its leaves are slightly succulent,
lobed, with scalloped edges. The leaf
color is green, but may be mottled or two-tone.
The entire plant is slightly hairy. Leaves have long petioles and are tightly
clumped in a basal rosette. With a
little water, the entire plant appears neat and tidy much of the year.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): plant |
Heuchera maxima begins to bloom in spring and can
bloom off-and-on through summer with a little water. The blooms of Island
alumroot are small, bell-shaped flowers on slender, upright flowering
stems. The flowers of this species are
white to pale pink and are clustered at the tips of side branches on the
stem. The flowers are less densely
packed than those of the Seaside alumroot.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): close-up of flowers |
Several
well-known, named Heuchera hybrids share the foliage characteristics of Heuchera maxima and the brighter flowers
of the Arizona native Heuchera sanguinea.
Hybrids between H. maxima and
H. sanguinea range in color from white/pale pink to bright pink or
magenta, and are very showy. Hybrid
cultivars include 'Genevieve' (rose-magenta), 'Opal' (white), 'Santa Ana
Cardinal' (large red), 'Susanna' (red), and 'Wendy' (pink), all developed at
the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont CA. We feature ‘Wendy’ in Mother Nature’s Garden
of Health.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): hybrid cultivar 'Wendy' |
The
Heucheras are loved for their ability to tolerate (even need) a shady
location. In nature, this species grows
primarily in moist, shady canyons. In the garden it does best with afternoon
shade, under trees or on the north side of walls or buildings. We’ve grown it in clay soils; it can succeed
in all but the poorest-draining soils. It
looks good with a yearly application of a light (1/2 strength) fertilizer,
particularly in sandy soils.
In
dry climates like S. California, Heuchera
maxima needs regular irrigation for the first year, until the plant is
established. Then water two to four times
a month for best appearance. Plants are actually quite drought tolerant (much
more so than the eastern Heucheras) – but they need a little water to look
good. We water our alumroots every two weeks from June to August in our
clay-loam soils. Then we taper off water
in September. To conserve water, we
recommend using a 1-inch thick organic mulch around Heucheras. Keep the area under the plants mulch-free to
discourage fungal infections of the stems and leaves.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): seed capsules |
Heucheras
don’t need much in the way of maintenance.
Cut off spent flower stalks for tidiness and to promote a longer bloom
season. Remove old, dead leaves in the
fall. If you’ve planted several plants, you may be able to collect seeds from
the dry capsules and start some new plants. And divide plants as needed, usually every 4-5
years. When plants become crowded and blooming decreases, then it’s time to
divide. Division is best done in early
spring.
So,
why plant Heuchera maxima and its
cultivars? First, these are charming,
old-fashioned perennials, with a long history of use in gardens. Most people have no idea they are California
native plants; they look that ‘garden-like’.
Their tidy appearance and low maintenance make them a good choice for
many gardens – including front yards. They
look equally appropriate in both traditional and contemporary garden designs.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): Ranch Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Claremont CA |
Heucheras
are the perfect solution for shady parts of the garden. They provide a natural,
woodsy element favored by many gardeners. They can be used as a ground cover (above) or
to border shady pathways or flower beds. With limited water, they can even be used
under native oaks.
Heuchera’s
small size makes them a good choice for narrow planting areas. Heucheras can even be grown in deep containers
(they have a tap root) on a shady patio. They are favorites of
hummingbirds. Plant some near a garden
bench; you’ll be rewarded by steady visits from these jewels of the air. The
flower stalks also make a pretty addition to floral arrangements.
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| Island alumroot (Heuchera maxima): good hummingbird plants |
Finally,
Heucheras are known for their medicinal properties. The leaves and stems – but particularly the
roots – produce chemicals that are strongly astringent and possibly
anti-microbial. In traditional medicine,
a poultice or extract of the roots was applied to skin wounds and sores to stop
the bleeding and reduce swelling. An
extract of the root was used as a gargle for mouth sores and sore throats. Note: this plant has strong medicinal properties
and should not be taken internally.
In
summary, Heuchera maxima is treasured
by western gardeners for its attractive foliage, pretty flowers and
shade-loving nature. It’s hard to find
an easier-to-grow plant that looks as good as the Island alumroot and its
cultivars. And if you’re creating a
Channel Island themed garden, you’ll want to include this species in your
collection. We hope you’ll consider
adding this versatile plant to your own garden this winter.
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| Heuchera 'Wendy' : Mother Nature's Garden of Health |
For plant
information sheets on other native plants see: http://nativeplantscsudh.blogspot.com/p/gallery-of-native-plants_17.html
We
welcome your comments (below). You can
also send your questions to: mothernaturesbackyard10@gmail.com
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