Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Copper King Foamy Bells: Maple-Shaped Leaves in Orange and Copper
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Copper King foamy bells looks like autumn arriving in May. Its new leaves, about 5 inches across and deeply lobed like small maple leaves, open bright orange with copper-red centers and thin yellow edges. By late fall they age to green with mahogany veins. Red stems carry frothy white flowers in late spring.
It is notably vigorous for a foamy bells, and it is a shade plant. It will not share the lavender bed, but it brings warm color to the shady beds on the same property.
Copper King at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Heucherella 'Copper King' |
| Foliage | Bright orange with copper-red centers and yellow edges; maple-like, about 5 inches |
| Flowers | Frothy white on red stems 18 to 24 inches tall |
| Size | 10 to 12 inches tall, 18 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts mid-May, peaks late May, with occasional later stems |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to part shade, or full shade |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
Warm color on the shady side
Shade gardens tend toward cool greens and blues. Copper King breaks that up with orange and copper, a welcome change in the beds where lavender cannot go. Keep your lavender in the open, sunny ground and use Copper King under trees, along a shaded walk or by the north side of a building.
There, it stands out best against dark foliage, ferns and blue hostas. Its warm tones even relate to the late-day glow of a lavender field across the yard, so the shade bed and the sun bed feel like one plan. Map both in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: bred for more heat and sun tolerance than typical foamy bells, but color is best with filtered sun or afternoon shade in hot summers.
- Soil: average to fertile, well-drained, with steady moisture. Soggy soil leads to crown and root rot.
- Planting: set the crown level with the soil surface.
- Deadheading: remove spent flower stems to keep the mound tidy.
- Winter: hardy in Michigan in well-drained soil. Mulch lightly after the ground freezes to prevent heaving, and trim winter-damaged leaves in spring.
Edging and container ideas
Copper King's full, low mound makes a bold edge for a shade border. In containers, combine it with dark purple coral bells, a blue-leaved hosta and a trailing fern for a warm-and-cool shade pot. Its color shifts through the season, from bright spring orange to green and mahogany by late fall, so the planting never looks the same twice.
Two tray sizes
Copper King is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray suits growers and mass plantings; the 20-cell tray gives bigger plugs for a faster start. See each product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my leaves turn green?
That is normal aging. The bright orange spring color matures to green with mahogany veins by late fall.
How vigorous is it?
Very, for a foamy bells. Give each plant room for its 18- to 20-inch spread.
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