Heuchera, Palace Purple

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' (Heuchera micrantha var.)
Also known as: Coral Bells, Alumroot

'Palace Purple' Heuchera is a stunning perennial cultivar grown primarily for its deep burgundy to purple-bronze foliage that brings rich contrast and texture to shade gardens and woodland edges. While native Heuchera species are indigenous to North America, 'Palace Purple' is a cultivated variety of Heuchera micrantha, selected for its bold leaf color and ornamental value. It also produces delicate sprays of creamy-white flowers in late spring and supports pollinators while serving as a useful groundcover in native-inspired or layered garden designs.

Key Characteristics

• Ornamental Foliage for Shade and Structure
  The deeply lobed, glossy leaves range from dark purple to reddish-bronze, maintaining their rich color from spring through fall. 'Palace Purple' provides beautiful contrast in part shade settings and is particularly effective when massed in borders or woodland gardens.
• Pollinator-Friendly Spring Blooms
  From May to June, the plant sends up wiry flower stalks topped with dainty, bell-shaped white to pale pink blooms. These flowers attract small native bees, hoverflies, and early-season pollinators.
• Low-Maintenance Groundcover for Moist Shade
  'Palace Purple' is ideal for planting under trees, along woodland paths, or in shaded rain gardens. Its clumping habit and attractive foliage help suppress weeds and reduce soil erosion in shade-dominant designs.
• Ecological Design in Native-Inspired Gardens
  While a cultivar, this Heuchera can complement native plantings and ecological gardens, especially when used in the herbaceous layer of permaculture systems or in understory plantings. Its root structure also offers shelter for overwintering insects and ground-dwelling pollinators.

Product Details

• Native range: Cultivar (derived from Pacific Northwest native species)
• Plant life cycle: Perennial
• Sun requirements: Part shade to full shade (can tolerate sun with consistent moisture)
• Soil requirements: Medium, moist, well-drained soil
• Mature height: 12-18 inches (flower stalks up to 24")
• Bloom time: May to June
• Bloom color: White to pale pink
• USDA Hardiness zones: 4-9

Heuchera 'Palace Purple' blends beauty and function in shaded landscapes. With its pollinator-friendly flowers, low-maintenance foliage, and groundcover potential, it's a standout for borders, understories, and ecological design.