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Heuchera americana - L.

Common Name Rock Geranium, American alumroot, Alumroot, Coral Bells, Rock Geranium
Family Saxifragaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Loamy woods and shady calcareous slopes and rocks[43].
Range Eastern N. America - Southern Ontario to Connecticut and Michigan, south to Oklahoma and Georgia.
Edibility Rating    (0 of 5)
Other Uses    (2 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (3 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Heuchera americana Rock Geranium, American alumroot, Alumroot, Coral Bells, Rock Geranium


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ram-Man
Heuchera americana Rock Geranium, American alumroot, Alumroot, Coral Bells, Rock Geranium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Ram-Man

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Red. Main Bloom Time: Early summer, Late spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Heuchera americana is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate.
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; Shady Edge; Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

None known

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.
Astringent  Cancer  Dysentery  Vulnerary

The root is very astringent and has been used in the treatment of cancer and also as an external remedy in sores, wounds, vaginal discharges and ulcers[207, 238]. It can be dried, ground into a powder and sprinkled onto wounds etc[213]. It is taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery and gastric ulcers[238]. It should be used with some caution since excess irritates the stomach and can cause kidney and liver failure[238]. The root is harvested in the autumn and is dried for use in decoctions or as a powder[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Mordant

The root can be used as an alum substitute, this is a mordant that is used in fixing dyes[168]. The root is rich in tannin and it has been suggested that this is the mordant[168]. A good ground cover plant for the woodland garden[200]. Plants should be spaced about 35cm apart each way[208].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Foundation, Specimen. 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]. A polymorphic species[4], it is apt to hybridize with other members of this genus[111]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, North American native, Suitable for cut flowers. The plant is heat tolerant in zones 8 through 1. (Plant Hardiness Zones show how well plants withstand cold winter temperatures. Plant Heat Zones show when plants would start suffering from the heat. The Plant Heat Zone map is based on the number of "heat days" experienced in a given area where the temperature climbs to over 86 degrees F (30°C). At this temperature, many plants begin to suffer physiological damage. Heat Zones range from 1 (no heat days) to 12 (210 or more heat days). For example Heat Zone. 11-1 indicates that the plant is heat tolerant in zones 11 through 1.) For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. An evergreen. The plant growth habit is a clumper with limited spread [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2].

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 cylindricaAlum Root, Roundleaf alumroot, Alpine alumroot, Beautiful alumroot, Poker alumrootPerennial0.5 4-8  LMSNM123
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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Subject : Heuchera americana  
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