Heuchera Green Spice

Heuchera 'Green Spice' is an amazing variety of heuchera, very popular thanks to its foliage with exceptionally contrasting silver reflections. Its large mint-green leaves are furrowed with purple veins and bordered with bright green, their shades evolving throughout the seasons. In autumn, a pumpkin-orange colour takes over the foliage, warming up the shaded corners of the garden. Low-maintenance, robust, and vigorous, this perennial is perfect for edging pathways or flower beds, or even for potted plants on the terrace or balcony. It is also highly valued for its ability to tolerate drought and high temperatures.

Heuchera 'Green Spice' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. It was recently developed by Terra Nova, a North American nursery specialising in creating new heuchera cultivars with increasingly surprising colours and remarkable vigour. Also known as Heuchera 'Eco-Improved', it is an improvement on Heuchera 'Eco-Magnifolia'.

'Green Spice' will reach a height of approximately 40 cm (16 in) for the foliage and 50 cm (20 in) in width, forming a large spreading clump. Its foliage is its major asset: lobed, with rounded shapes and long petioles, its leaves change colour depending on their maturity, as the seasons and temperatures change. In spring, the young leaves have a striking contrast, with a beautiful fresh green colour and purple veins. In autumn, they take on warmer tones, ranging from pumpkin-orange to red. Flowering is light and airy and occurs in May-June. These long spikes adorned with tiny white flowers dancing in the wind give a blurred appearance to this very romantic flowering. It is this movement, difficult to capture on canvas, that earned heucheras the nickname 'Despair of the Painter', which they share with certain saxifrages.

Heuchera 'Green Spice' makes a magnificent ground cover for semi-shaded areas of the garden, and even slightly dry areas in summer. However, it dislikes having its feet in the water! Its foliage remains decorative throughout the year, and its discreet flowering adds grace and lightness to the scene. Combine it with the lush foliage of hostas, ferns, and tiarellas. It thrives well in pots, alongside grasses such as carex. In a small shaded rockery, it will accompany small ferns such as Adiantum pedatum, or the beautiful marbled foliage of Asarum splendens. When planted en masse, it will create an unusual border along an east-facing pathway. Its colours blend harmoniously in a woodland setting: plant it at the base of trees and shrubs, where it will naturally complement them. You can also use the leaves and flowers to create beautiful bouquets.