PlantFiles: Golden Coral Bells, Alumroot, Coralbells, Alum Root
Heuchera 'Amber Waves'

This is a patented plant.

I planted two small "Amber Waves" in front of my lace cap hydrangea. These plants have taken off and tripled in size during the last two months. The rusts, limey greens, and golds of the coral bell leaves complement the lavendar-blue flowers of my hydrangea nicely. The coral bells are in a spot where they receive morning sun until 11am. The summers here are very hot and dry and the afternoon sun can be brutal so I treat coral bells as a "part shade" plant. They are on a drip system so they receive regular watering. I found coral bells do well in this zone, surviving the cold, dry winters to come back as a dependent border filler in my garden.

I live in north central Alberta, where the winters can be brutal. I was concerned that Amber Waves hadn't survived, but here it is, only the beginning of June and it's already double the size it was when I planted it last summer. The color is gorgeous!

I love mine it is a contrast to the green foilage in my stella daylilies, but is yellow like the flowers. Very interesting look in front of my bricks. Mine grows in full sun, and is sending up flower spikes now. I have only had luck in the sun with my hucheras, when I placed them in the shade they have died in the past.

I purchased this plant at a show last April and after a year in an 8" container love it.
It wintered here in Cincinnati w/ only snow protection in temps to 0 degrees.
Stayed evergreen or should I say evergold! lol

There isn't a plant foliage in the garden this one doesn't complement!

If you like this plant also try Heucherella x 'Sunspot'.
A better flowerer and just about as brilliant in color.

I live in a Chicago, Il northwest suburb. Last year I planted one 'Amber Wave'in a bed on the northeast corner of my home. We had a horrible dry summer, followed by a dry fall and no snow-cover winter with zero degree weather. This translates to a freeze depth of 2 to 3 feet! Amber Waves not only made it through this, it flowered beautifully (just finished!) It came through so well, I have planted two more! I love the "jolt" of color it gives - so uncommon from almost all the other huchera hybrids recently developed.

Overall, I have had a positive experience with coral bells. I first purchased a coral bells "Purple Palace" 3 years ago. On the plant tag it said full sun and living in lower Alabama, full sun is intense. Needless to say, it waned, so I moved it to partial shade where it has prospered since.It has purple to burgundy leaves and sends up many burgundy spikes with cream-colored flowers.I also had 3 coral bells, one of which died, the other 2 are green and growing but no flower spikes.They are in the same bed.

I have mine is a shady bed with plenty of organic matter and it loves it. If the color was not up to par, I would recommend composting, because sometimes certain nutrients that are lacking are the cause of a dull coloration. If you are not composting (using food scraps), then I would recommend a bagged compost with added nutrients and minerals. Things like bone meal, alfalfa meal, kelp and soil microbes are very benefiscal to the plants.

Some people (like me) love the color of this plant; others think it looks too much like it's dying a slow death! Seems very reluctant to flower so far. Also, definitely prefers the shady moist bed. We had a recent hot spell -- short but fierce -- and I noticed some leaves crisped up already, and it's only May.