Heuchera villosa 'Autumn Bride'

Autumn Bride heuchera (Heuchera villosa ‘Autumn Bride’) is blooming now. This native ground cover, aka “hairy alumroot”, displays wide lime-green foliage which is not as colorful as many new H. villosa  hybrids introduced in recent years. However, the white flowers on Autumn Bride are showier and more numerous.

Heucheras prefer a moist, well-drained, compost-rich soil. Plants are heat and humidity tolerant in the Southern Appalachian region (USDA zones 6 and 7). Grow either in direct morning sunlight in z-6 or in partial shade in z-7. Autumn Bride languishes in deep shade and dry soils and is best grown in a mulched bed.

Autumn Bride and the newer cultivars are not your grandmother’s puny heucheras. Plants are long-lived and vigorous. Leavesappear fairly battered by late autumn and are best cutback along with spent flowers. Feed a handful of 10-10-10 granular fertilizer per plant before growth starts in the early spring. Water soluble fertilizers such as Miracle Gro™, Schultz®, and Espoma® are also good choices. Follow package directions.

Autumn Bride started a heuchera evolution. Planting tips: ‘Autumn Bride’ makes a terrific 1½ to 2 feet tall bedding plant (see photo) when planted en masse. Space plants 2-3 feet apart.

Heuchera villosa are deer resistant.