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Lavender companion · grow guide
Foamy Bells · × Heucherella
Plant in part shade in moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Grown mainly for colorful leaves, it hates soggy roots and can heave out of the ground in winter.
Check my zone & planting dates
Part shadeLight
Moderate waterAverage drainage
pH 5.5–7.0Soil
Zones 4a–9bHardiness
10″ tall20″ wide
ResistantDeer · rabbits resistant
Not known toxicPets
Huckleberry saysTell me where you grow and I’ll check if Catching Fire will thrive there.
Hardy in zones 4a–9b
Spring or early fall.
Your year with Catching Fire
When it arrives
Plugs arrive in active growth. Water the tray right away and keep it in bright shade, never hot sun. Plant within a few days or move into 3–4" pots. Set each plug so its top is level with the soil, and keep it evenly moist for the first month.
Spring or early fall.
Set the crown level with the soil; never bury it.
12–18" apart.
Humus-rich loam · pH 5.5–7.0
Fix-it tip: Add compost to clay or sand. Avoid low, wet spots; crowns rot from overwatering.
Part shade (tolerates full shade; more sun in cool, northern gardens).
Darker-leaved types handle more sun once established. Hot afternoon sun scorches leaves.
Don’t give up on it
Often semi-evergreen; old leaves may look ragged in spring. Fresh leaves appear from the crown in early to mid-spring.
Trim old leaves; check for heaving.
Water in dry spells.
Enjoy fall leaf color.
Mulch after ground freezes.
First season: Water when the top inch is dry through the first season.
After that: Moderate water; don't overwater.
Light; a spring compost topdressing.
Trim tattered old leaves in spring. Cut flower stalks after bloom if you like.
Every 3–4 years in spring, when crowns get woody and lift out of the soil.
Freeze-thaw can heave plants out of the ground. Mulch after the ground freezes; press heaved plants back in spring.
Handles heat best with shade and steady moisture.
Plant pushed out of soilLikely cause: Frost heaving
What to do: Replant crown at soil level; mulch
Leaves scorchedLikely cause: Too much sun
What to do: Move to afternoon shade
Mushy, collapsing crownLikely cause: Root rot
What to do: Improve drainage; water less
Woody, leggy centerLikely cause: Old crown
What to do: Divide; replant pieces with crown at soil level
Wilting with wet soil and a mushy crown mean rot. Crispy brown edges mean sun scorch or drought.
Not listed by ASPCA; no known toxicity reported. Discourage pets from chewing any garden plant. Its parent Heuchera (coral bells) is listed by ASPCA as non-toxic.
Deer: resistant · Rabbits: resistant
Finnegan saysStill not sure what’s wrong? Ask Plant Health — describe it or add a photo.
Good in pots · 1 gallon+
Excellent in shade containers. Protect pots in winter in zones 5–6.
Outdoor plant
Needs winter rest; not a houseplant.
Best after a cold winter
Grows best with a normal winter rest.
Plugs from the tray
3–4 inch pots for 3–5 weeks, until roots hold the soil
Garden bed or a 1 gallon potTime to move up? Slide the plant out: if white roots wrap the outside of the soil, it’s ready for the next size.
Planting with lavender
Give it its own spot
Prefers shade and richer, moister soil than lavender. Grow it in a shaded border or containers near the house.
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