Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Apple Twist Coral Bells: Chartreuse to Apple Green in the Shade
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Apple Twist coral bells is all about the leaves, and they change as the season goes. New growth comes up bright chartreuse yellow with red veins. As the leaves mature, the veining fades and the color shifts to a fresh apple green. Wavy, rippled edges and dense overlapping leaves make a full mound about a foot tall and up to 2 feet wide.
Apple Twist at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heuchera 'Apple Twist' |
| Foliage | Chartreuse with red veins, maturing to apple green; wavy, rippled |
| Flowers | Tiny pale creamy green bells on 18 to 20 inch stems, not showy |
| Size | 10 to 12 inches tall, 20 to 24 inches wide |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Part to full shade |
| Season | Evergreen to semi-evergreen |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
A shade plant in a lavender garden
Coral bells and lavender look like they could be friends: both form tidy mounds and both stay attractive into the cold months. But this one wants shade and richer, evenly moist soil, which is not what lavender's sunny, lean bed offers. Give Apple Twist a home on the shady side of the property, where its glowing spring leaves can light up a dim corner.
It is a natural for edging a shaded path, filling the front of a woodland bed or brightening containers on a covered porch. Pair it with blue hostas, dark-leaved coral bells and ferns for contrast. Plan the shady beds alongside the sunny ones in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Depth: set the crown right at soil level, not buried.
- Light: afternoon shade protects the pale chartreuse spring leaves from scorch.
- Water: keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy, and water in the morning rather than late in the day to limit leaf diseases.
- Air: give it room so leaves dry quickly.
- Spring tidy: trim off tattered leaves once new growth starts.
The winter heave
Coral bells have a habit of pushing themselves up out of the ground in Michigan winters, especially in heavy or wet soil. Mulch after the ground freezes, then walk the bed in spring and press any heaved crowns back down, or replant them a little deeper. Crown rot in poorly drained soil is the main thing that ends a coral bells, so drainage matters as much as shade.
Choosing a tray
Apple Twist is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray suits long edges and container growers; the 20-cell tray is a manageable number for a single shade bed. See the product pages for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Are the flowers showy?
No. The tiny creamy green bells are modest. Apple Twist is grown for its foliage.
Why are my leaves green instead of chartreuse?
That is the plant maturing. New leaves are chartreuse with red veins, and older leaves turn apple green.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes. It is a great container plant for shade. Make sure the pot drains well.
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