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Heuchera cylindrica - Douglas. ex Hook.

Common Name Alum Root, Roundleaf alumroot, Alpine alumroot, Beautiful alumroot, Poker alumroot
Family Saxifragaceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Streambanks and wet rocky places[172]. Rocky soils, cliffs and talus slopes[60].
Range N. America - British Columbia to California and east to Nevada, Wyoming and Montana.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Heuchera cylindrica Alum Root, Roundleaf alumroot, Alpine alumroot, Beautiful alumroot, Poker alumroot


biolib.de
Heuchera cylindrica Alum Root, Roundleaf alumroot, Alpine alumroot, Beautiful alumroot, Poker alumroot
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Wsiegmund

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Heuchera cylindrica is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from July to August, and the seeds ripen from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves
Edible Uses:

Leaves - cooked[172].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


The whole plant, but especially the roots, is astringent[257]. A decoction of the roots is used in the treatment of diarrhoea and stomach cramps[257]. Externally, a decoction is used as a wash on aching joints[257]. A poultice of the mashed peeled roots is used in treating rashes, sores and cuts[257]. When mixed with the spores of puffballs, it has been used as a salve for treating nappy rash[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Mordant

The root can be used as an alum substitute, this is a mordant that is used in fixing dyes[168, 257]. The root is rich in tannin and it has been suggested that this is the mordant[168, 172]]. A good ground cover plant for the woodland garden[200]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in any good sweet garden soil that does not dry out in spring[1]. Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade[1, 111]. Prefers a well-drained fairly rich and not too heavy soil[111]. Plants are hardy to about -20°c[187]. Closely related to H. chlorantha[200], it is apt to hybridize with other members of this genus[111]. A very ornamental plant[60], a number of named forms have been selected for their ornamental value[187]. The subspecies H. cylindrica glabella has been specifically mentioned for its use as a mordant[168, 172].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer. The seed can also be sown in the middle of spring in an outdoor seedbed and planted out in early summer. Alternatively, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in the middle of summer for planting out in the following spring. Division in March or October[1, 111]. It is best to divide the plants in August or early September, making sure that the woody roots are planted quite deeply with only the crown of foliage above the ground[233].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Heuchera americanaRock Geranium, American alumroot, Alumroot, Coral Bells, Rock GeraniumPerennial0.5 4-9 MLMSNM032
Heuchera diversifoliaAlum Root, Crevice alumrootPerennial0.6 4-8  LMSNM113
Heuchera glabraAlpine HeucheraPerennial0.6 4-8  LMSNM113
Heuchera micranthaAlum Root, Crevice alumroot, Hartweg's alumroot, Coral BellsPerennial0.7 4-9 FLMSNM123
Heuchera sanguineaAlum Root, Coralbells, Crimson BellsPerennial0.5 4-10 MLMSNM003
Heuchera versicolorPink alumrootPerennial0.2 8-11  LMSNM013

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

Douglas. ex Hook.

Botanical References

60200

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