Heuchera 'Fire Alarm'

Fire Alarm offers some of the hottest red leaves you will ever lay eyes on, and it does so practically all year long. This new Heuchera from master plantsman Dan Heims outperforms all other Heuchera with searing red tones, brightest in spring and fall but persisting through summer and, in mild climates, even into winter.

The large, lobed leaves are rounded for a showy look that really stands out in border, mixed container, or woodland garden. Thick and leathery, these leaves survive summer heat beautifully. And they arise on adaptable, easy plants that thrive in sun or shade and also set flowers.

Spring is a glorious season for Fire Alarm, when vivid scarlet leaves unfurl all over the plant. Just 8 to 10 inches tall when not in bloom, this Heuchera spreads 10 to 18 inches wide. The thick foliage and excellent branching make a full, bushy appearance. By early summer, when bell-shaped white blooms shimmy above the foliage on maroon stems, the red tones have matured to a darker shade. The flowers add another 4 inches or so of height to the plant, and last intermittently all summer, though most heavily early in the season. Then, as the cooler weather of autumn arrives, the foliage turns fire-engine red again for another several months, before darkening for winter (or dropping entirely in the northern end of its hardiness range).

Adaptable to sun or part shade, Fire Alarm is useful as an accent, groundcover, or container subject. Butterflies adore it, and it looks good year-round in most areas. This scene-stealer is also very easy to grow, making it a must-have for just about any garden spot where you want a pop of color.

Uses: Banks, Slopes, Beds, Borders, Edging, Groundcover, Containers, Underplanting for Roses and Shrubs