Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Lava Lamp Coral Bells: Copper and Plum Leaves for Part Shade
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Lava Lamp coral bells grows into a large, billowy mass of broad, flat leaves in shifting warm tones. New leaves open bright copper orange and deepen to coppery purple, with deep purple undersides, so the plant always shows a blend of glowing and dusky shades. It is one of the bigger coral bells, about 16 inches tall and 28 inches wide, and in early summer tall deep purple stems carry dense wands of cream flowers.
The name fits: the colors shift like something you would have found on a bedroom dresser a few decades ago.
Lava Lamp at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heuchera 'Lava Lamp' |
| Foliage | Copper orange aging to coppery purple, deep purple undersides |
| Flowers | Cream wands on deep purple stems 32 to 36 inches tall |
| Size | About 16 inches tall, 28 inches wide |
| Bloom | Early to mid-June |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4-9 |
| Light | Full sun to full shade; best color in part sun |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
Where it meets the lavender
Most of a lavender bed is too hot and dry for coral bells, but many gardens have a transition zone: the end of a bed that falls into afternoon shade from a tree or building, where the soil holds a little more water. That is Lava Lamp's spot. Its copper and plum leaves warm up the edge of the planting and make a rich backdrop for purple flowers, and its deep purple flower stems tie straight back to the lavender.
Its villosa parentage gives it better heat and humidity tolerance than many coral bells, and it will even grow beneath black walnut trees. Plan the transition zone in the Companion Plant Planner.
Planting and care
- Light: grows in sun to full shade; the copper tones are strongest in part sun.
- Soil: average to fertile and well drained, with regular water. Wet, poorly drained soil causes crown rot.
- Planting depth: set the crown at soil level. Coral bells planted too high or in heavy soil tend to heave.
- After bloom: cut the flower stems back.
- Winter: evergreen to semi-evergreen. Mulch after the ground freezes and press heaved plants back in spring.
- Spring: trim worn leaves as new growth starts.
In containers
Its size and color make Lava Lamp a strong container plant. A single plant fills a wide pot, and the copper leaves look great beside a potted lavender on a patio that gets some afternoon shade. Water containers more often than beds.
Two tray sizes
Lava Lamp is offered as a 72-cell plug tray for growers and mass plantings, and as a 20-cell plug tray with larger plugs ready for the garden. See each product page for current availability, or visit the Wholesale Hub.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my leaves more purple than copper?
Older leaves naturally age to coppery purple. New growth is the brightest copper, and more light brings out warmer tones.
Can I plant it under a black walnut?
Yes. Lava Lamp tolerates black walnut, which is useful in many Michigan yards.
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