Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Silver Gumdrop Coral Bells: Shimmering Leaves, Hot Pink Wands
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Silver Gumdrop coral bells pairs iridescent silver leaves with vibrant pink flowers, a combination you do not see often, since most silver coral bells bloom white or cream. The small, rounded, semi-glossy leaves form a low cushion just 6 to 8 inches tall, and from midsummer they take on a rosy blush that ties in with the flowers.
It is a shade plant. Give it a home in a shaded bed or container, not in the hot, dry ground where your lavender grows.
Silver Gumdrop at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heuchera 'Silver Gumdrop' |
| Foliage | Iridescent silver with thin dark veins, rosy blush later |
| Flowers | Vibrant pink bells on stems 20 to 24 inches tall |
| Size | 6 to 8 inches tall, 14 to 24 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, about nine weeks of color |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Part sun to full shade |
| Wildlife | Great for pollinators; moderately deer resistant |
Bringing lavender's silver into the shade
One of the joys of a lavender garden is all that silver foliage. Silver Gumdrop lets you carry that look into the shady parts of the yard, where lavender would sulk and rot. Its shimmering leaves brighten dark corners under trees, and the pink wands rise well above the mound for about nine weeks in summer, overlapping lavender's bloom across the garden.
It is small but vigorous for its size. Use it along the front edge of a shade bed, in a row along a shaded walk, or in containers by a north-facing door. Pair it with dark-leaved coral bells, ferns or hostas for contrast. The Companion Plant Planner helps you keep shade plants and sun plants in the right beds.
Care notes
- Water: regularly, at the base. Avoid overhead watering late in the day to limit leaf diseases.
- Drainage: crown rot in wet, poorly drained soil is the main problem, so improve heavy soil before planting.
- Deadheading: cut spent flower stems back to the foliage to keep it tidy.
- Winter: evergreen to semi-evergreen in Michigan. Frost heaving is common in heavy soil: plant the crown at soil level and mulch after the ground freezes.
- Spring: press any heaved plants back into the soil and trim tattered leaves.
Cut flowers from the shade bed
The pink flower stems are good for cutting and last well in small arrangements. A few stems with a sprig of fresh lavender from the sunny side of the garden make a sweet little posy. The leaves are not suited to drying.
Two tray sizes
Silver Gumdrop is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. Choose the 72-cell tray for large plantings or potting up your own plants, or the 20-cell tray for fewer, larger plugs. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
Can coral bells take sun?
Silver Gumdrop has average heat tolerance and does best in part sun to part shade. It is not a plant for lavender's full-sun bed.
Why is my coral bells pushing out of the ground?
Freeze-thaw cycles heave the crowns. Mulch after the ground freezes and press plants back in come spring.
Does it attract pollinators?
Yes. The pink bells are rated great for pollinators.
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