Heuchera villosa ‘Purple Palace’ is a popular perennial plant known for its striking bronze-purple foliage and delicate pink flowers. The plant forms a mounding clump of semi-evergreen, deeply lobed leaves, which maintain their vibrant color throughout the growing season. In early summer, it produces airy sprays of small, pale pink, bell-shaped flowers on slender stems, adding a touch of grace to the foliage.
Description
Key Characteristics:
- Foliage: The main attraction of this plant is its striking foliage. The leaves are typically a deep purple, bronze-red, or purplish-bronze color on the top, with a contrasting metallic amethyst or beet-red underside. The leaves are large, shiny, and have a star-shaped or heart-shaped, lobed appearance. The color can change slightly throughout the seasons, sometimes fading to a bronze-green in hot summers.
- Flowers: While the foliage is the primary feature, ‘Palace Purple’ also produces delicate sprays of tiny, bell-shaped, creamy-white or pale pink flowers on slender, wiry, dark red stems that rise above the mound of leaves. The flowers bloom from late spring to mid-summer.
- Growth Habit: It is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial, meaning it may lose some or all of its leaves in colder climates but new growth will appear in the spring. It typically grows to a height of 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) with a similar spread.
Growing Conditions:
- Light: ‘Palace Purple’ is quite versatile and can grow in full sun, partial shade, or even full shade. However, it performs best in partial shade, especially in areas with hot summers, as this helps prevent the foliage from fading. If grown in full sun, consistent moisture is essential to prevent the leaves from scorching.
- Soil: It thrives in organically rich, humusy, moist, and well-drained soil. It is tolerant of a range of soil types, but it is crucial that the soil is not overly wet, especially during winter, as this can lead to root rot.
- Maintenance: This is a low-maintenance plant. It’s deer and rabbit resistant and can attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. To maintain vigor, it’s recommended to divide the clumps every 3-4 years in the spring. Removing faded flower stems can encourage more blooms.
- Uses: ‘Palace Purple’ is an excellent choice for a variety of garden settings. It’s often used as an edging plant, in rock gardens, perennial borders, and woodland gardens. It also performs well in containers, where its dramatic foliage can be a focal point.
| See also different: | Easy-care evergreen plants |