Heuchera hybrid variety. Geichera - growing from seeds at home. Types and varieties of geyhera Description and photo

Heuchera micrantha Palace Purple planting and care photo

Heuchera heuchera is a herbaceous perennial plant of the Saxifrage family, the name is derived from the Latin Heuchera. It is named after the German physician and botanist Johann Heinrich von Geicher. Its roots are in North America. The size of the plant is small, adult bushes of the plant reach 50 cm in height.

Heuchera is amazing ornamental plant who liked landscape designers, because of its bright color of leaves. The highlight of this exquisite perennial is that during the growing season it can change its color more than once. It is impossible to find among plants a flower more saturated with different shades than geyhera.

Geichera is a real find, because it will impress even the most demanding gardener, both professional and amateur. It seems that this culture has collected all the colors for itself. Ranging from silver, yellow, green ending with black. These are also all shades of red, including purple, burgundy and delicate pink. Every year, breeders delight gardeners and designers with new geyhera hybrids. All kinds of scattering patterns, veins, spots are also characteristic of geyhera. Leaves are leathery and toothed.

There are 3 types of textures:

smooth
corrugated
curly.

Heuchera flowers will delight you until the frost with shades of pink, white, red and cream. Small bells are collected in a small panicle, mounted on thin tall stems. Seeds are in the so-called box small size about the size of a poppy seed.

Heuchera varieties are divided into two categories:

decorative leafy is a plant with chic leaves, such as American geyhera.
ornamental flowering, such as blood red geyhera, which is valued in landscape design for your flowers.

Heuchera - a chic decoration for artificial reservoirs, a beautiful container plant, some varieties are used for cutting. Looks great with hostas and astilbes in mixborders.

Growing geyhera in the garden

Geichera, despite its magnificence, is enough unpretentious flower. It will not be difficult to grow it, just as there is nothing difficult in caring for it.

In order for geyher to please during the entire period of its growth, you need to know the following features:

To maintain the aesthetics of the flower bed, it is necessary to remove the flower stalks after the flowers have withered, while maintaining a harmonious look of the composition. But this is the case if you are not interested in further propagation of the flower with the help of seeds.
In geyhera, the peduncle is cut off immediately after the plant has faded.
The lower leaves tend to fall off. To keep the flowerbed attractive, simply transplant the perennial into a deeper hole to cover the bald trunk.
Spud the bush to avoid drying out. Sometimes this procedure is worth doing a couple of times a season.
Over time, the leaves of the geyhera darken and thicken, but at the very beginning, that is, in the first months, they are brighter and more transparent.
For a harmonious design, use compositions from plants such as daylilies, ornamental cereals, primroses.

Planting geyhera in spring and autumn in the ground

This is shade plant , so it is recommended to plant it in the ground in partial shade, without direct sunlight. The best way — east side or western.

If the afternoon sun hits the flower, then it is necessary to maintain high humidity abundant watering. You can think of a flower bed so that at lunchtime the bush is shaded more tall plant. There are exceptions - red varieties. They reveal their palette only in a sun-drenched flowerbed.

Where and how to plant a geyher, the video will tell:

Soil shouldn't be a problem. Suitable for anyone with an acidity of 5-6. Can also be added to soil dolomite flour or ash, it will deoxidize it. If you remember where the geyher comes from, namely from the mountainous regions of the country, then you can even plant a flower on a rocky area.

But still, give preference to fertile soil, so geyher will thank you with lush and luxurious flowering. Pay attention to drainage, it should be about 3-5 cm. There should be no stagnant water, so low areas for planting will not work. Experts also recommend sprinkling the rhizome with coarse sand or earth with large expanded clay, this will save the geyhera root from rot.
There are two ways to reproduce:

Seminal- they are collected from a peduncle, sown directly into the ground, previously loosened, and covered with earth. In order for the seedlings to be more uniform, it is necessary to mix the seeds with sand. Before sowing, the land is advised to warm or freeze. Plant in a low, about 5 cm container, with holes and cover with film or glass. After the third leaf, dive (distance 4-6 cm). We remove the cover for the flower. This method is suitable only for ordinary green varieties, because the seeds may not convey any varietal characteristics. A perennial blooms, which grew from seeds in the third year.
Vegetative– best option. The reason is that this is a guarantee of the preservation of varietal characteristics of the plant. It is easy to grow seedlings in a greenhouse from cut cuttings.

In June or July, it is required to cut the stalk so that it does not touch the rhizome.
It is better to process the cut point with a root former, the leaves are not needed at the bottom, they can be removed, and then the finished stalk is planted in peat or sand.
For good growth and rooting, it will take 2-4 weeks, with constant soil moisture, and ventilation of the greenhouse.

Pests and diseases of geyhera

Heuchers do not get sick often, and if this happens, then the situations are not critical. The main thing is not to overfeed the plant and carefully drain the soil, because otherwise the perennial becomes weaker and does not resist diseases.

If appeared powdery mildew on leaves or root rot, then dig up a perennial and treat it with a fungicide, it does not hurt to transplant it to another place. And in case of damage by spotting or rust, spray with a solution Bordeaux liquid once every two weeks until complete recovery.
As for pests, you can use insecticides from snails, caterpillars, leaf nematodes.

After flowering

The perennial begins to bloom in June. The duration of flowering is 2 months, although sometimes more. Peduncles should not be plucked, they must be carefully cut. However, this is not necessary to obtain seeds. Leaves do not need to be removed, but more on that below.

Wintering geyhera

This culture winters easily, a little preparation is enough for comfort. Winter hardiness of geyhera is excellent, but in conditions harsh winters should be a little safe. Leave dried leaves untouched, later in the spring, after frost, they are removed with secateurs to activate and start the growth of new buds. This will additionally protect the plant from severe frosts. The main shelter should be constructed from oak leaves, spruce branches, hay, pine needles, straw, or other similar material.

Types and varieties of geyhera Description and photo

There are a lot of varieties of geyhera - about 70 items. Most of them grow in forests and near mountain rivers in the USA and Mexico. The main types of geyhera are called so: mountain and forest. Below we will consider the most popular varieties that are used not only to decorate flower beds or create a unique landscape design, but also to breed more and more new varieties of geyhera. Hybrids are created in two directions, the first - lush bloom, the second - decorative splendor leaves.

Heuchera blood red Heuchera sanguinea

This variety belongs to the mountain species. It is characterized by pure green, or with a small interspersed with silver, cream and white color, leaves. In structure, they are denser than the leaves of other varieties of this perennial. Intense red or dark pink flowers, 1-1.5 cm long.

The height of the bush reaches 40 cm in length. The peduncle is not stable and thin. Since Geichera comes from mountainous and northern places in nature, it is very hardy. Therefore, flower growers loved her so much. The most comfortable place for blood-red geyhera will be a well-ventilated, shady area with excellent drainage. The most common varieties are Monet, Variegata and Hercules.

Heuchera hairy Heuchera villosa

It has velvety and slightly pubescent leaves, quite large in size. The flowers are small cream-colored, which bloom in June - August. In nature, it can be found in the river valleys of the United States. Varieties differ in the color of the foliage.

Heuchera cylindric Heuchera cylindrica

Also a mountain view, which also has a high peduncle, glandular stems reach a mark of 90 cm. The flowers are large during flowering, they are white, coral, pink and green. The inflorescences are very dense. The leaves are green, toothed, rounded. The showy sheets have a silver pattern, plus veins in a contrasting color. Popular varieties cylindrical geyhera: Greenfinch, Hyperion, Green Ivory.

Heuchera micrantha

Geichera small-flowered obsidian Heuchera-micrantha ‘Obsidian’ in garden design photo

Carries the title of the most spectacular species. This is well deserved. The thing is that in nature the color of the leaves has a purple color, and the breeders added brightness to the already chic look. Maple leaf shape. Peduncle 60 cm, small creamy-pink flowers. The plant is unpretentious, frost-resistant, loves slightly acidic soil. The variety Palace Purple belongs to the small-flowered geyhera; in 1999 it was recognized as the best perennial.

Heuchera americana

Known as mountain geranium. In nature, American geyhera grows near the Great Lakes. It is attractive with its leaves, namely, red veins. Below is a purple leaf. The shape of the leaf is rounded, and the ends are beautifully serrated. During the growing season changes color, most bright colors are in autumn and spring.

Heuchera hybrida

Heuchera 'Caramel' Coral Bells hybrid Caramel photo in the garden

It turned out when crossing the blood-red geykhera with the American one. Leaves, peduncles and flowers are larger than those of its predecessors. The leaves are green with contrasting veins, and the flowers are white, red or pink. Varieties: Cancan, Beauty Color, Cappuccino, Ruby Vale.

Gooseberry Heuchera grossulariifolia

It differs from other representatives of geyhera by its excellent frost resistance. Even in harsh climates severe frosts don't worry about overwintering. This is a small bush, to be more precise - 15 cm, and the leaves are about 7 cm in diameter.

Heuchera (lat. Heuchera)- a genus of rhizomatous herbaceous perennials of the Saxifrage family, cultivated species and varieties of which are extremely in demand today in landscape design. Heuchera got its name in honor of Johann Heinrich von Geicher, a German botanist and physician. Heuchera hails from the rocky regions of North America and is a compact shrub up to half a meter tall, eye-catching with its luxurious, exquisite leaves. Geichera is a gourmet plant, because during one growing season it can change the color of the leaves, and more than once. No other culture is distinguished by such a palette of shades and so many options for their combinations as geyhera, and especially its modern variegated varieties.

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Planting and caring for geyhera (in brief)

Landing: spring, March or April.
Bloom: from June to August.
Lighting: bright diffused light, partial shade.
The soil: moisture-absorbing, well-drained with a pH of 5.0-6.0.
Watering: regular, as the soil dries out - once every 2-3 days, in dry weather - twice a day.
Top dressing: from the second year before and after flowering with liquid mineral complexes in half the dose.
Reproduction: seeds, dividing the bush, green cuttings.
Pests: weevils, leaf nematodes, butterfly caterpillars, snails and slugs.
Diseases: gray rot, spots, rust, powdery mildew.

Geuchera flower - description

A dense bush of geyhera is formed by leathery serrated leaves on long cuttings. The shape and color of the leaves is amazing in variety: almost black, bright red, maroon, amber, pink, purple, yellow, green and even silver leaves in all sorts of patterns and veins, specks and spots. The texture of the leaves are smooth, corrugated and curly. Geyhera blooms all summer, and even until frost with small pink, white, cream or red bells collected in panicles. The geyhera fruit is a box in which seeds the size of a poppy seed ripen (about 20,000 seeds fit in 1 gram).

Geichera has been used in landscape design for a long time. Designers divide geyhera varieties into two categories: decorative leafy, whose ancestor was American geyhera, and decorative flowering, such as red geyhera, or blood red.

Features of growing geyhera

There are no obvious features or difficulties in growing geyhera, but this plant has character traits, which will not hurt you to know. So:

in decorative leafy varieties of geyhera, if you do not have a goal to collect seeds in the fall, it is better to remove the peduncle as soon as it appears: they grow much higher than the bush and have an untidy appearance, which causes damage decorative qualities plants;
flower stalks in decorative flowering varieties are removed immediately after the geyhera fades;
over time, the lower leaves on the bush fall off, and the geucher looks untidy. It is necessary to dig up the plant before flowering and transplant it along with earthy clod into a deeper hole to hide the bald trunk;
at the beginning of growth, young geyhera leaves are bright and translucent, like flower petals, but as they grow older, they thicken and darken;
geuchera goes well with primroses, daylilies, astilba, bergenia and ornamental cereals.

In the photo: Variegated geyhera leaves

Landing geyhera

When to plant geyhera

Planted geyhera in March or April. Heuchera has good shade tolerance, so the best place for her - in the penumbra of other plants, where diffused light will fall on her. The best option is the east or west side, where direct sunlight falls only in the morning or evening. If this is not possible, and you have to plant it in the sun, then you need to provide regular and more abundant watering to the geyher.

By the way, varieties with brightly colored leaves in an open sunny area become even brighter and more spectacular. And varieties with red leaves should grow in the sun, otherwise their leaves will remain green in the shade.

In the choice of soil, geyhera is not picky, it can grow on any soil, except for acidic soil, the optimal pH is 5-6. Even a rocky area does not frighten the plant, because in nature, in its homeland, it covers the rocky shores of the Great Lakes. But the more fertile and looser the soil, the more attractive and magnificent the geyher. Great importance has moisture capacity and, at the same time, good drainage of the soil on the site. Stagnation of water in the roots of geyhera does not tolerate.

How to plant a geyhera

There are two ways of planting - seeds and seedlings. Geyhera seeds are simply sown in loose prepared soil and covered. But we remind you that seed propagation- not the most The best way, since it does not retain the species and varietal characteristics of the mother plant, and at best you will grow a simple geyhera with green leaves.

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Growing geyhera in the open ground is not difficult at all, you just need to choose the right place for planting the plant. Many varieties grow and reproduce well even in the mountainous regions of North America, so caring for a geyher in our latitudes is very simple, because it can grow even on rocky soil. In addition, its decorativeness and versatility will bring new shades to any landscape design.

Description of geyhera: varieties and varieties

So, what is this miracle - geykhera? An evergreen perennial plant 40-60 cm high. The leaves are medium in size, rounded, sit on long petioles and form a rosette at the root. Heuchera blooms from late May until autumn. The flowers form an inflorescence-panicle about 20 cm long. After flowering, fruit-boxes with seeds are formed.

Heuchera ornamental foliage

Cultivated varieties of geyhera can be conditionally divided into two categories:

decorative leafy;
decorative flowering.

Geichera is decorative with its foliage: no other plant has such a variety of palettes and textures of leaves. Geuchera flowers noticeably lose to the leaves, but there are varieties that are valued precisely for the inflorescences, they create a magnificent color contrast with the foliage of the plant.

To date, about 400 varieties of geyhera have already been bred, their shades and varieties will satisfy the most refined taste and will find their place in any landscape design.

At the moment, geyhera varieties are especially popular. cylindrical shape, american and blood red. Now let's look at these varieties in more detail with a photo.

Planting a plant

Before planting, you need to choose a place and prepare the soil. Heuchera goes well with other perennials and is not aggressive towards them, so it can be safely planted in company with other types of plants or lay a flower bed from different varieties geyhery.

The plant feels great in any neighborhood

The plant prefers light and nutritious soils where water does not stagnate. Acidic soil does not suit her. Before planting, you need to add a large river sand or pebble. Seedlings should be planted in May at a distance of 20-25 cm and watered regularly, but not waterlogged, otherwise the plant may die. Plant a geyhera in open ground can be seeds, cuttings or separating the outlet of an adult bush.

plant care

As for care, in this regard, geyhera is very unpretentious. But there are some conditions, and these are:

scattered shadow;
deep drainage;
permeable soil.

Heuchera, planted in the shade of trees or in partial shade, will retain its decorative effect, since it needs the sun in the morning. Varieties with red leaves should be planted in sunny areas, it is in the sun that they will turn red, but in the shade they will remain green. But many varieties adapt to the sun - the silvery mosaic of their foliage becomes more saturated color, and geyher with purple foliage darken.

In the shade, geyhera leaves will acquire rich shades.

The root system of geyhera is superficial, so it is important to protect the roots from drying out. It is best to apply mulching. Mulch will retain moisture, the soil under it breathes and is structured by soil inhabitants. Straw, sawdust, compost, tree bark, foliage, expanded clay screenings, gravel, peat can be used as mulch.

The soil must be permeable - from stagnant water, the plant can get sick and die. Therefore, you should take care of drainage even when planting a plant.

Aging geyhera bushes lose their decorative effect - the middle of the bush is exposed. In this case, you need to rejuvenate the bush: dig up the plant, divide it into parts and plant it. This should be done at the end of summer after flowering or in spring before the leaves bloom. Heuchera tolerates these manipulations painlessly and immediately starts to grow.

Mulching the soil will help the geyhera maintain moisture balance.

Dried foliage is not removed in winter - it helps the plant to overwinter, covers the roots and retains heat. Remove only inflorescences with seeds - after flowering they spoil decorative look. Further harvested seeds can be used for propagation and cultivation of geyhera in open ground. Varieties with light foliage and young bushes for the winter need to be additionally covered with foliage.

Advice. Water the plants early in the morning or in the evening, drops of water in the sun can scorch the leaves.

Fertilizer and top dressing geyhera

Before human cultivation, geyhera grew in the mountains, where the soil is rather scarce. Modern varieties are still not far from their wild relatives, so for a small amount nutrients in the soil do not complain. Mineral fertilizers are rarely used. It is better to limit yourself to one top dressing in the spring in the first year after planting. If you did not do this in the spring, then feed the geyher with a mineral complex fertilizer for deciduous plants at the end of the growing season. After fertilizing, be sure to water the bushes.

There is no need to regularly feed the plant

Important. When fertilizing, be sure to reduce the dose by half from the manufacturer's recommended on the package.

Plant propagation

Reproduction by dividing the bush is the simplest way in which the decorative effect of the variety is preserved. This is done in early spring or autumn. Separate the outlet from the adult plant and transplant a little deeper than it was planted mother plant.

The second way is cuttings. A cutting 4-6 cm in size is cut from a bush in the summer and rooted in a greenhouse. The process takes 3-4 weeks, after which the finished plant can be planted.

The division of the geyhera bush

Diseases and pests

As for diseases, geyhera is unique in that it practically does not get sick in the open field, and it is rarely affected by pests. But sometimes it can suffer from powdery mildew, rust, gray mold or leaf spot. This can happen if the plant is watered frequently or the soil is poorly drained and water stagnates at the roots, creating an ideal environment for pathogens to thrive. From an excess of fertilizers, the plant "fattens", which leads to a weakening of immunity. Powdery mildew can be defeated by spraying with a fungicide, after removing diseased leaves, and Bordeaux mixture will cope with spotting and rust.

Rust on a geyhera leaf

As for pests, the larvae are dangerous for the plant. Maybug, which can gnaw roots, vine snails, slugs, caterpillars and leaf nematodes, which can be killed with an insecticide.

Advice. Slugs hide during the day in secluded places from the sun, so you can put a board, slate, cardboard or a piece of old linoleum near the geyher, and collect slugs under them in the morning.

Heuchera: combination with other plants

Thanks to the contrasting combination of geyhera leaves with the leaves of other plants, you can create unique compositions. Geyhera is planted with hostas, kupens, ferns, hellebore, daylilies, combined with ornamental cereals, brunera, irises, barberries.

Heuchera will decorate your garden even in autumn, when other plants have faded

Heuchera goes well with tall conifers, acts as an addition to low roses. In the spring it is good to place with tulips: after they bloom, the flower bed is not empty.

Geichera in landscape design

Don't be afraid to experiment with planting Heuchera in your area. how gems, geykhera will decorate any flower garden, no other flower culture has such a rich palette with an abundance of colors and shades.

A huge plus of geyhera is its decorative effect during the entire growing season and ease of care. Geichera is grown as in single landings one species, and in mixed ones, they are used as a perennial groundcover. With a compact shrub shape, geuchera is an ideal companion to combine with other plants. This is a real find for those cases when you need to fill the space in the flower garden or emphasize the dignity of another plant, highlight the planting of coniferous plants.

Geichera in landscape design

Geichera does not lose its decorative form with age, so it will fit perfectly into the flower beds of strict geometric shapes masks unsightly areas. Geichera is suitable for creating alpine slides, rocky gardens, borders, decorating terraces and arbors. She can decorate garden sculptures, slides and fountains. Often used for planting in front flower beds.

In the first year after planting, it will be difficult for a geyhera to appreciate its merits in landscape design - only planted, it will not yet become such a magnificent beauty, but next season you will be able to enjoy the density of colors.

Heuchera varieties and their cultivation: video

Geichera: photo

Heuchera (heuchera)- a genus of rhizomatous herbaceous perennials of the Saxifrage family, cultivated species and varieties of which are extremely in demand today in landscape design.

Heuchera got its name in honor of Johann Heinrich von Geicher, a German botanist and physician. Heuchera hails from the rocky regions of North America and is a compact shrub up to half a meter tall, eye-catching with its luxurious, exquisite leaves. Geichera is a gourmet plant, because during one growing season it can change the color of the leaves, and more than once. No other culture is distinguished by such a palette of shades and so many options for their combinations as geyhera, and especially its modern variegated varieties.

Geuchera flower - description

Features of growing geyhera

There are no obvious features or difficulties in growing geyhera, but this plant has characteristic features that it will not hurt you to know. So:

- in decorative-deciduous varieties of geyhera, if you do not have a goal to collect seeds in the fall, it is better to remove the peduncle as soon as it appears: they grow much higher than the bush and have an untidy appearance, which damages the decorative qualities of the plant;
- flower stalks in decorative-flowering varieties are removed immediately after the geyhera fades;
- over time, the lower leaves on the bush fall off, and the geyhera looks untidy. It is necessary to dig up the plant before flowering and transplant it, together with an earthen clod, into a deeper hole to hide the bald stem;
- at the beginning of growth, young leaves of geyhera are bright and translucent, like flower petals, but, as they grow older, they thicken and darken;
- Heuchera goes well with primroses, daylilies, astilba, bergenia and ornamental cereals.

Landing geyhera

When to plant geyhera.

Planted geyhera in March or April. Heuchera has good shade tolerance, so the best place for it is in the penumbra of other plants, where diffused light will fall on it. The best option is the east or west side, where direct sunlight falls only in the morning or evening. If this is not possible, and you have to plant it in the sun, then you need to provide regular and more abundant watering to the geyher. By the way, varieties with brightly colored leaves in an open sunny area become even brighter and more spectacular. And varieties with red leaves should grow in the sun, otherwise their leaves will remain green in the shade.

In the choice of soil, geyhera is not picky, it can grow on any soil, except for acidic soil, the optimal pH is 5-6. Even a rocky area does not frighten the plant, because in nature, in its homeland, it covers the rocky shores of the Great Lakes. But the more fertile and looser the soil, the more attractive and magnificent the geyher. Of great importance is the moisture capacity and, at the same time, good drainage of the soil on the site. Stagnation of water in the roots of geyhera does not tolerate.

How to plant a geyhera.

There are two ways of planting - seeds and seedlings. Geyhera seeds are simply sown in loose prepared soil and covered. But we remind you that seed propagation is not the best way, since it does not preserve the species and varietal characteristics of the mother plant, and at best you will grow a simple geyhera with green leaves.

The seedling method is more reliable. Seedlings are grown in a greenhouse container, and then planted in open ground to a depth of 3-4 cm at a distance of 20 cm from each other. The soil must be loose so that air can freely penetrate the roots. And geykhera from seeds in the open field, and seedlings germinate in a month and a half.

Geichera - care

How to care for geyhera.

Growing geyhera is not difficult, and caring for geyhera will not tire you. By and large, she does not need any care. In the first year of vegetation, in the year of planting, the plant does not need to be fed; in subsequent years, it is necessary to feed decorative flowering varieties of geyhera universal fertilizer for flowering plants, and decorative leafy - complex fertilizers for deciduous plants, respectively. Feeding time - before and after flowering, and the dose should be halved compared to that recommended on the package.

Watering the geyher should be regular, as the soil dries out - once every two days, and it is better to forget to water the geyher than to do it twice - excess moisture harms it. But on hot dry days, you will have to water the geyhera twice a day - early in the morning and in the evening. You need to pour water under the bush, carefully so that the spray does not fall on the leaves, which can become stained with burns from this.

If you do not want to have trouble with weeds and loosening the soil after watering, mulch the planting of geyhera with peat in the spring.

Heuchera breeding.

When the plant is 3-4 years old, its outlet may fall apart and you will see a bare middle. This means that the time has come to divide the bush and plant its parts, thereby rejuvenating the geyhera. The best time for this breeding method May or early autumn. The bush is divided in such a way that there are 2-3 outlets in each division. Roots that are too long should be shortened, and those on which signs of decay are found should be cleaned of rot and powdered with charcoal powder. Parts of the divided bush are planted in holes measuring 30x30 a little deeper than the mother plant was planted, at a distance of 25 cm from each other. After planting, it is desirable to water the site and mulch. Parts of the bush take root within a month. This method of propagation of geyhera is called dividing the bush.

Heuchera also propagates in another vegetative way - cuttings. Heuchera cuttings are carried out in June or July: cuttings are cut from the mother bush as close as possible to the soil surface, but without rhizome fragments, divided into pieces of 4-6 cm, the lower sections are powdered with a root former, partially freed from leaves and rooted in a mixture of peat and sand in makeshift greenhouses located in partial shade. Do not forget to ventilate the cuttings and moisten the soil in containers. Rooting occurs in 3-4 weeks.

Pests and diseases of geyhera.

Geyhers get sick very rarely, and they are not afraid of pests, but sometimes they still suffer from powdery mildew, rust, gray rot and spotting. The cause of these ailments is an excess of fertilizers or stagnation of water in the roots of plants. From powdery mildew, which covers the leaves with a whitish coating, geyhera will be relieved by fungicide treatment. And spotting and rust can be defeated by spraying geyhera twice a month with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Of the pests, snails, slugs, weevils, caterpillars and leaf nematodes are dangerous for geyhera, which can be eliminated with special insecticides.

Heuchera after flowering

Flowering of geyhera begins, as a rule, in early summer and lasts two months, and sometimes longer. When the geyhers in the garden bloom, special care they won't ask you. Cut off flower stalks with wilted flowers if you don't intend to wait for the Heuchera seeds to ripen.

Preparing geyhera for winter

Geichera winters in the garden. In no case do not cut wilted and yellowed leaves of geyhera in the fall: they help the plant to keep the roots warm in winter. Heuchera for the winter requires shelter, and it is better if you use oak leaves. When spring arrives, remove the cover and carefully trim last year's geyhera leaves with pruning shears as close to the soil surface as possible.

Types and varieties of geyhera

The genus geyhera has about 70 species. Many of them grow naturally in the forests and woodlands of the mountainous regions of Mexico and the United States. Conventionally, the types of geyhera are divided into mountain and forest. We will introduce you to the most popular species and varieties among gardeners, which are used in landscape design and for breeding new varieties.

Heuchera blood red

belongs to the mountains. It has green leaves and bright red flowers. Americans call it the red bell. The leaves of blood red geyhera, forming a rosette, are much denser than other species, they are round and serrated. Some varieties of this species are distinguished by beautiful white or cream specks on the leaves. Peduncles reach a height of 50cm. This species is cold-resistant, which is why it is so popular with our gardeners. Most famous varieties"Monet", "Variegata", "Hercules".

Heuchera hairy

is different large leaves with a velvety surface and pubescent peduncles and cuttings, which is why it got its name. The Bronze Wave variety has the largest leaves up to 20 cm in diameter of a bronze color, and Rachel has not only flowers, but also pale pink peduncles.

Heuchera cylindrical

- also a mountain view, it has not only spectacular leaves, but also tall peduncles with a cloud of small flowers that seem to hover above the bush during flowering. This species is larger than the others, and this attracted breeders who, on the basis of cylindrical geyhera, developed new varieties. Peduncles reach 90cm in height, bloom on them large flowers white, pink, green and coral on short stalks. The leaves are heart-shaped, rounded, green in color with a silvery pattern or veins in a contrasting color. Varieties: "Greenfinch" with greenish-cream flowers, "Hyperion" - a compact bush with a peduncle height of only 50 cm and red-pink flowers.

Geichera small-flowered

- according to many flower growers, this is the most spectacular of the geyher. Its leaf, shaped like a maple, is covered with silvery spots, and some specimens found in nature are distinguished by a purple tint of leaves. Paniculate inflorescence on a peduncle 60 cm high consists of small creamy pink flowers with orange anthers. Of the popular cultivars, the best known are 'Palace Purple' with dark purple leaves, which is the best perennial plant of 1999, and 'Bressingham Bronze' with bronze-brown leaves.

Heuchera american,

growing on the shores of the Great Lakes. In the USA it is called "mountain geranium". Attracts with its leaves, forming a rosette about 20 cm high. On the underside, the leaves are brown-lilac, heart-shaped, rounded, petioles are long. Panicles on peduncles 50-60 cm tall consist of yellow-green flowers. Green Spice is one of the most beautiful varieties American geyhera with green leaves and contrasting silvery spots on them. During the growing season, the leaves change shades of green from more yellow to darker, the silver spots increase, and a purple hue appears around the veins.

Heuchera hybrid

- refers to it interspecific hybrids geyhera american and blood red with the participation of small-flowered geyhera. The flowers of this species resemble blood-red geyhera flowers, but they are somewhat larger, as are the leaves with peduncles. White, coral, red or pink flowers bloom for more than two months. The color of the leaves is mostly green, but with contrasting veins and cream specks. The only drawback of these hybrids is that from strong wind and rain flower stalks may fall. Varieties: "Cancan", "Cappuccino", "Beauty Color", "Ruby Vale" and others.

Geuchera gooseberry

- this plant is so cold-resistant that even after wintering in the garden in severe frost it can completely retain its leaves, and it is this rare quality that attracts both flower growers and breeders in it.

The numerous and diverse family of geyher has great amount varieties. Today, about 70 of them are known. Popular varieties that are used in decoration personal plots, do not require special conditions growing and caring for them is within the power of even novice gardeners. Their photos are widely distributed and it will not be difficult to choose a flower to your taste.

Heuchera varieties

Variety Palace Purple is considered one of the most spectacular geyher. Her homeland is the Atlantic coast of North America. The bush reaches 50 cm in height. Large glossy leaves of burgundy and brown shades are covered with silvery spots. White and cream flowers appear in June-August, and the leaves adorn the gardens from early spring to hard frosts.
Heuchera Hybrid has curly leaves of white and green flowers with plum veins and white speckles. back side leaf - red-purple. Blooms in June-July with white and pale green, pink and coral flowers. Plant height - 25-30 cm.
Heuchera Caramel rarely blooms, but it is famous for its unique honey-yellow leaves. The height of the bush is about 30 cm. The variety came to us from the southeastern lands of North America, and therefore feels great in summer heat and in a humid climate.
Variety Purple Castle has dark purple leaves and long white hairs on the shoots. Flowers resemble the shape of a bell. It occurs naturally from British Columbia to the southern coast of California.
Cappuccino geyhera leaves are bronze on top and purple on the bottom. The brush-shaped flower blooms in early summer. Red inflorescences are crowned with white petals.
Geichera Regina has a silver-gray leaf color that shimmers with a bluish-lavender hue. The leaf is speckled with dark veins. Pink flowers bloom in May-June.
The leaves of geyher Marmalade have a yellow-orange color. The underside of the leaf is light purple. Flowers small, greenish. Blooms in the first half of summer.

Soil and lighting requirements

Despite the fact that geyhera is considered an unpretentious flower, there are certain requirements for choosing a place to plant. The brightness of the color of the leaves and the duration of flowering will depend on how illuminated the area for placing the plant will be. You should take into account the characteristics of the variety and recommendations for planting.

Variety Purple Castle prefers partial shade, but is not averse to being lit and sunbeams in the morning hours. Heuchera Caramel will grow better in the shade.

As for the composition and quality of the soil, well-drained areas are allocated for the plant. In places where water stagnates, the roots of the plant will rot, which will lead to the inevitable death of the geyhera. The plant is unpretentious, but will feel better on light, nutritious neutral or acidic soils.

Accommodation in the garden

The best place for growing geyhera is to place it in the sliding lacy shade of tree crowns. It will serve as an excellent ground cover crop in place of a lawn, and will also have an annual cover of fallen leaves.

This is a perennial that retains its shape for a long time, so it will good decision use it as flower beds border or decoration garden paths. It looks good in an ensemble with astilbe, geranium, brunera, bergenia, daylilies, primroses, ornamental cereals. Heuchera is combined with dwarf shrubs and roses. In landscape design, plants are used in the design of rockeries and rock gardens.

Planting and growing geyhera

Geichera is propagated by two methods: seeds and vegetatively. Species varieties are grown from seeds. This method is more complicated, but a diligent gardener will be provided with high-quality planting material in the future. By dividing the bush, hybrid varieties of geyhera are propagated.

Growing from seeds

Seeds have a shelf life of six months after harvest. If they are packed in foil, germination lasts up to 1.5 years.

Planting is carried out 25 weeks before the estimated time of flowering geyhera. The best time for this is March. A wide container 5 cm high is suitable for sowing. There must be drainage holes. The soil for growing seedlings must first be disinfected. To do this, the earth is calcined in an oven or microwave oven at least 5 minutes.

For successful seed germination, the following conditions must be met:

the soil for sowing must be loose; to achieve this, sand is added;
seeds are poured onto moist soil from above. They do not need to be deepened, but they should be slightly pressed to the ground so that during irrigation they are not washed off with water;
the seed container is left in a well-lit place and covered with glass or film, which is removed from time to time. Crops need ventilation, but make sure they are protected from drafts.

Seedlings will break through in 2-3 weeks. Shelter after this does not need to be removed, but continue to ventilate. The soil must be sufficiently moist. When the first 2-3 leaves appear, the seedlings dive at a distance of 5 cm from each other.

Seedlings need to be hardened off. When the danger of frost has passed, approximately in mid-May, they can be taken out into the garden and dug into the ground in a partial shade area. Young plantings in the first year especially need watering.

For this purpose, a bush is dug up and divided into several parts. Planting material must be prepared for rooting:

dried shoots of the plant are cut;
release brood buds from old leaves;
the bare stem is shortened to a young tissue;
sections with signs of decay are cut off on the roots, crushed coal is applied to the cut.

A landing pit is prepared with dimensions of 30x30 cm. Immediately before planting, mineral or compost fertilizers and ash. After planting, the geyhera is watered and shaded from the sun. After 6-7 weeks, the plant will start new roots. Then it can be transplanted to a permanent place.
Yulia Petrichenko, expert

Heuchera care

Feeding and watering

Heuchera care consists of watering and fertilizing. AT abundant watering geyhera is not needed. Excess moisture adversely affects the plant. The soil should be well-drained and moderately moist. You should be attentive to the plant in cold dry periods and hot summer days especially before flowering.

Watering mode - preferably morning or evening. Make sure that drops do not fall on the leaves; water is poured exclusively under the bush. In order to avoid rapid evaporation of moisture, the soil at the roots is annually mulched with rotted foliage or peat in autumn.

On the fertile soils the flower does not need special fertilizers. Twice a year - before and after flowering - a small dose can be applied to stimulate growth mineral fertilizer with a low nitrogen content. Its excess will provoke the laying of the kidneys of renewal.

Preparing for winter

Geichera - hardy plant and remains to winter in the open ground. However, despite good tolerance negative temperatures, the plant should still be prepared for winter. You don't need to trim the flower. The roots are spudded, and the soil is covered with insulating material. The base of the outlet is mulched with sawdust. Young plants are additionally covered with agrofiber.

Heuchera transplant

Growing geyhera is accompanied by one drawback - stretching the stems. This happens when the upper parts of the shoots rise above the soil with rosettes of leaves. The lower leaves die off, and the upper ones become smaller. Such plants need to be cut every two to three years and replanted.

Transplantation is carried out before flowering in spring or immediately after:

flower stalks are removed, the exposed aerial parts of the stems are cut off;
slices of cuttings are sprinkled with ash;
the cuttings treated with stimulants for the formation of roots are planted in greenhouses or mini-cuttings.

Sand is suitable as a substrate. The position of the plant should be such that the center of the rosette is above the soil surface. With the development of young plants and the degree of their rooting, a decision is made to plant in open ground. It is better not to carry out autumn planting, but to postpone until spring.

Heuchera diseases

The culture is quite resistant to diseases and does not deliver special trouble. The gardener himself can harm the flower if he does not take care of the drainage of stagnant water, or overfeeds the plant with organic matter. These factors most often cause root rot. The first signal of this will be the withering of the geyhera. In this case, the plant is dug up, rotten leaves are removed, damaged areas roots and planted in a pot.

Geichera leaves can damage snails and slugs. Uninvited guests are collected by hand, but lime grooves, tobacco dust or ash can also stop them. Leaves can be affected by spotting and downy mildew. Sick leaves are removed, they must be burned, and the plant should be treated with fungicides.

There is nothing difficult in planting and caring for a geyhera. As you can see, it is only important to choose a suitable site, not be too zealous with watering, and transplant the plant in time.

And if geykhera has already settled in your garden, it will be very interesting for us to know what varieties you are breeding, in which region? What are their features and processing methods planting material? Share your experience in the comments!

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