Heuchera hybrida Frilly

Heuchera 'Frilly' is a very different variety of heuchera that will not leave you indifferent, both in terms of its appearance and its colour. The plant forms a tight little tuft composed of frizzy leaves whose caramel colour, darker than that of Heuchera Caramel, changes over the weeks. In the heart of summer, it is adorned with thin stems bearing a light and creamy white flowering. An original and colourful heuchera, to be grown in a pot or in a semi-shaded border.

Heuchera 'Frilly' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. It is a recently obtained horticultural hybrid in the Netherlands, where it received the Bronze Medal of the KVBC Spring Challenge in spring 2021. This heuchera with a compact habit will reach a height of 40 cm (16 in) (for the foliage) and about 35 cm (14 in) in width in 4 to 5 years. Its evergreen foliage in winter is the major asset of this plant: its small rounded leaves with a villous lamina and strongly lobed edges have a unique and crisped appearance. Their colour evolves from purplish-violet to caramel orange-brown, before later turning pale yellow-green. The underside of the foliage is beautifully coloured in pink-violet. Flowering is light and airy; it begins in July and continues until September. The flowers, small cream-white bells at first and then becoming white, are arranged along an upright stem. This plant has a shallow root system.

Heuchera 'Frilly' deserves a special place on the terrace, balcony, and in the garden. It can be planted in the ground in a border or in a shaded rockery that is not too dry. For example, associate it with a purple heuchera and mauve Aubrieta; the combination will be both modern and original. Grasses and ferns will bring a touch of wildness and romance. It will also be a good companion for small shrubs and mass roses, planted at their base. In a rockery, place a light mulch contrasting with its beautiful foliage. Finally, it makes an original ground cover. Also, associate this heuchera with blue flowers such as forget-me-nots, corydalis, or lungworts. A good cut flower, the graceful bells of this plant add a lot of lightness to bouquets.

Heucheras with trembling stems and tiny bells were very fashionable in the 19th century in all European gardens. It was the impressionist painters who named them 'Despair of the Painter', having probably tried in vain to depict them in their art.