Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Sultry Night Coral Bells: A Black-Purple Mound to Edge Lavender
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Sultry Night coral bells is a dark, tidy heuchera with ruffled black leaves washed in purple. The purple shows again on the leaf backs and stems, and new leaves open glossy in spring before settling into a deep, steady color that lasts all season.
Short leaf stalks hold everything close, so the plant forms a dense, rounded dome just 8 to 10 inches tall. It is the little black dress of the edging world: it goes with everything.
Sultry Night at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Heuchera 'Sultry Night' |
| Foliage | Ruffled black with a purple overlay; purple undersides and stems |
| Flowers | Small pinkish flowers on slim stems in midsummer |
| Size | 8 to 10 inches tall, 16 to 20 inches wide |
| Bloom | Starts late June, peaks mid-July, about three weeks |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Full sun to full shade; afternoon shade helps in hot spots |
| Deer | Moderately resistant |
Where it meets lavender, and where it does not
Coral bells are flexible about light, but they are not as dry-tolerant as lavender. In full sun, Sultry Night needs steady moisture or the leaves can scorch. So the best spot is not the middle of a hot, dry lavender row. It is the end of the bed that catches afternoon shade from a tree, fence or building, where the soil stays a little more evenly moist.
Placed there, the contrast is striking: near-black ruffles at ground level, silver-gray lavender behind and purple spikes on top. The purple overlay in the leaves picks up the lavender flowers, so the combination looks deliberate. If your garden has no such spot, grow it on the shady side of the property or in a pot. The Companion Plant Planner helps you find the right corner.
Care through the year
- Soil: poor to average is fine if drainage is good. Heavy, wet soil invites crown rot, the main risk.
- Water: water during dry spells, more often in sun.
- Flowers: it is grown for foliage. Remove the flower stems after bloom for a tidier mound.
- Leaves: avoid overhead watering late in the day to keep foliage clean in humid summers.
- Winter: reliably hardy in Michigan in well-drained soil. Freeze-thaw cycles can heave the shallow crowns, so mulch after the ground freezes and press heaved plants back in spring. Trim tattered leaves in early spring.
Beyond the border
It works for mass plantings and containers, and the leaves are useful as cut foliage. A few dark leaves in a jar of fresh lavender stems make a quick, moody arrangement.
Plug tray sizes
Sultry Night is offered in 72-cell and 20-cell plug trays. See each product page for current availability, or the Wholesale Hub for tray orders.
Frequently asked questions
Will the leaves fade in summer?
The leaves are known for holding their deep color all season. Give afternoon shade in hot spots to avoid scorch.
Do pollinators use it?
Yes, it is rated good for pollinators when it blooms, though most people grow it for the foliage.
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