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Heuchera maxima (Island Alumroot) - A rhizomatous clumping perennial that forms 1- to 2-foot-tall hummocks to almost 3 feet across with 2 to 3 inch wide deep green multi-lobed leaves that are large for the genus. These leaves have a fringe of hairs along their margins, are often lightly marbled and red tinged in winter, and are held on long petioles. In early spring emerge clusters of small slightly hairy pinkish-white flowers on intricately branching stems that rise 18 to 24 inches above the foliage and last into summer.
Plant in full sun (coastal) to light shade with occasional to infrequent irrigation - requires some additional water in inland garden. Is cold hardy to 10-15 ° F. A great native plant for the woodland garden and an excellent choice for planting in full to partial sun with little irrigation along the dripline of Coast Live Oak, Quercus agrifolia.
Heuchera maxima is native to the northern Santa Barbara Channel Islands where it is relatively rare, growing on cliffs, canyons and shady woods. In their book "Heuchera and Heucherellas: Coral Bells and Foamy Bells" Timber Press 2005 authors Dan Heims and Grahame Ware note that Linnaeus named Heuchera for Johann Heinrich von Heucher, professor of medicine and Botany at Wittenberg University and that the name Heuchera should be pronounced following this person's name that it commemorates, meaning it so be pronounced HOY-ker-uh, but like most people, we continue to pronounce it HUE-ker-ah. The specific epithet is in reference to the larger overall size of this plant compared to others in the genus. Other common names for this plant include Channel Islands Coral Bells, and Jill of the Rocks.
Heuchera maxima plant is parent to the Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now California Botanic Garden) hybrid Heucheras that include Heuchera 'Genevieve', Heuchera 'Opal', Heuchera 'Santa Ana Cardinal', Heuchera 'Susanna' and Heuchera Wendy and is also a parent of the University of California Davis introduction Heuchera 'Rosada'. We have continually grown this great useful seed grown plant since 1989.
This information about Heuchera maxima displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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