Geykherella (Heucherella) - herbaceous perennial plant of the Kamnelomkov family, which throughout the year attracts attention to the unusual color of the leaves. They meet green, orange, red and purple shades that can diversify flower beds and balcony plantings.
Heicher and heicherella - the same thing?
Some people identify plants like heichera and heicherella, but this is not the same thing. Geicherella arose as a result of the work of breeders to cross heichera and tiarella. It differs from mother plants in compactness and long preservation of decorative properties. Geicherella does not need such frequent rejuvenation, and it creeps out on the soil more slowly. Foliage and flowers are miniature, openwork, more attractive.
Botanical Description
The root system of heicherella consists of superficial thick roots. Stems are flexible, creeping or rising, painted in pink tones. Very decorative leaves are attached to them on long stalks. They have a pockmarked color from a mixture of bright green, purple and yellow. The foliage is dense, strongly dissected, covered with villi from below and along the petioles. The plant retains leaves year-round. Its maximum height is 70 cm.
Flowering occurs from July to August. At this time, on small peduncles (20-45 cm) small panicles of fluffy flowers are formed. Miniature bells are snow-white, red, yellow in color and contrast with multi-colored foliage. Ovaries in flowers do not form due to their absolute sterility.
Varieties and varieties
Breeders are constantly cultivating new varieties of plants that differ in height, color of leaves and flowers, as well as care requirements.
- Bridget Bloom characterized by coral pink flowers and bright green leaves. The highest point of the plant are its inflorescences, they reach a height of 45 cm.
- Rosalie with growth of 45 cm has a darker, coral pink color of inflorescences and yellow-green leaves in spring. During the season, foliage changes color to dark green with red-brown veins.
- Solar Power has bright yellow leaves with a brown core at the edges.
- Quick Silver at a height of 60 cm it differs by an ashen-silver shade in the colors of foliage and petals. Peduncles saturated brown.
- Kimono. On bright green leaves there are burgundy stripes at the veins. Inflorescences are also characterized by burgundy color.
- RedStoneFalls has even brighter foliage. It combines abstract brown-orange patterns with dark green bordering.
- Alabama Sunrise differs in very decorative coloring of leaves. The main tone in them is yellow with notes of light green. Along the veins is a bright brown pattern.
- Bras Lantern. Strongly dissected large leaves combine an orange-peach outer edge with a red-brown core and veins.
- Golden zebra has variegated foliage coloring. Bright yellow edges are adjacent to the pomegranate core and veins. Inflorescences are snow-white, medium-tall.
- Sweet tee Throughout the season, foliage resembles the autumn color of maple leaves. They border the shades of red, pink, orange and burgundy.
- Tapestry has deeply dissected leaves with bluish-green edges and a narrow burgundy vein pattern. The bush is very compact, up to 25 cm in height and up to 40 cm in width.
- Hani rose. This short (up to 30 cm) bush shimmers with all shades of pink, which reminds a large candy. The leaves are pink, darker with red veins, the stems are coral, and the inflorescences are creamy pink.
- Stoplight or traffic light - one of the latest developments. The oval broad leaves are light green, almost yellow, with red thin veins. The height of the bush with white inflorescences reaches 60-65 cm.
Geykherella landing
Since it is impossible to obtain seeds from the flowers of heicherella, it is most often propagated vegetatively, for example, by dividing the rhizome. Perform the procedure after mid-July, when the bulk of the flowers fade. At this time, the roots actively give young shoots, which does not happen in the spring.
It is necessary to dig out the mother bush, cut off the dried ends of the shoots and cut the root into several parts with buds. Young delenki are immediately buried in the ground to prevent drying out. This method is also used for rejuvenation. If the number of plants suits, then the rhizome is simply dug up and the lateral processes are removed.
In April or May, cuttings from young shoots can be cut. They root very well in moist open ground and manage to gain strength for the colder in the cold weather for a successful wintering.
Cultivation and care
Geykherella belong to very unpretentious plants. It is enough to choose the best place and the right soil. Bushes prefer shaded areas of the garden. In the open sun, the leaves often dry, and their bright colors fade significantly. Fertile and well-drained soils, neutral or slightly alkaline, are preferred.
In the heat or after transplanting, the plant should be regularly watered, but moisture stagnation should be avoided. So that the soil does not dry out, the soil is mulched with fallen leaves at least once a year. Growing, the rhizome raises the ground, so mulching will create sufficient protection and improve decorative properties.
It is better to fertilize geykherella with organic fertilizers or phosphorus. Due to the excessive amount of nitrogen, the leaves grow greatly and consume all the plant's forces necessary for a safe wintering.
Although the bushes are very compact and retain their beauty for a long time, they need rejuvenation every 4-5 years. Without this measure, the base of the stems lose their foliage and stretch, and the edges become smaller and dry. It is necessary to dig up the roots, trim the ends with extra shoots and plant in a renewed fertile land.
The bushes are evergreen, that is, they do not drop foliage even under snow. Therefore, for normal wintering, the plant should be covered with non-woven material. This will protect the roots and shoots from frost. Another important point is that when the sun hits, even in the middle of winter, the leaves immediately begin to evaporate moisture, but the sleeping root system does not feed the stems. Without a reliable shelter, the plant will simply dry by spring.
So that at the beginning of the season the rhizome soon wakes up and begins to grow, you can pour it with warm water.
Geicherella has good immunity from disease, but growing in shady and damp places it is attacked by slugs. These parasites eat large holes in decorative foliage. Rescue from insects will help soil cultivation under a bush with lime. Chemical insecticides, as well as a solution of mustard powder, are protected against these and other pests.
Using
A variety of heicherella varieties allows you to create interesting compositions in the garden. Moreover, you can not be attached to the flowering period, since the foliage has more beauty than flowers. The plant is suitable for decorating borders, balconies, shaded areas of the garden and the banks of ponds.
Geycherells look spectacular in rockeries, rock gardens and large flower beds in the foreground. Compact plants can be planted in large flowerpots to decorate terraces, gazebos or verandas.
