|
When you think about the
old ‘stand-by’ perennials, Coral Bells are usually one that comes to my
mind. They grow in partial shade to full fun, they’re lower mounding
plants, usually require little maintenance, a nice show of late spring to
mid summer flowers, and of course this wonderful year round foliage looks
great in the garden. This is Palace Purple, the 1991 Perennial of the
Year. And since 1991, the varieties of Coral Bells to plant in the garden
have absolutely exploded.
Extensive plant breeding
has resulted in an unbelievable number of new hybrids of Coral Bells, each
with their own flare of leaf color, leaf shapes, and flower colors. And
they range from greens to lime greens to variegated to an assortment of
shades of maroons and purples. And even though their early season flowers
are a nice show, to me, it’s this foliage, that lasts year round, that gives
Coral Bells their real show.
Here are just of few of
the hundreds to choose from:
-‘Snow Angel’- green and
creamy white mottled foliage with spikes of pink flowers
-‘Amber Waves’- ruffled
amber-gold foliage with light rose-colored flowers
-‘Can Can’ - Stunning,
dark plum purple leaves display ruffled edges and metallic silver veining.
-'Green
Spice'-
Nice green leaves have a silver overlay and are adorned with deep purple
veins during the
spring and again after it cools down in the fall
-
'Stormy Seas'
-Ruffled foliage in shades of pewter, burgundy, and green.
- ‘Peach Flambé- bright
peach in the spring to plum purple by fall
-‘Frosted Violet’ - with
its frosty violet foliage
-‘Chocolate Ruffles’ -
fuzzy ruffled red bronze leaves with purple undersides
And one of my
favorites…’Lime Rickey’ with this outstanding lime green foliage that again,
lasts year round.
Now, one thing Coral
Bells will not tolerate is a poorly drained soil, so make sure the area is
well drained, and be sure to add some organic matter when plantings these
garden beauties. |
