Heuchera micrantha Red Sea

Heuchera 'Red Sea' is a very recent cultivar, with truly unique foliage. On its shiny and undulate leaves, a range of fantastic colours can be seen, from red-purple doubled with fuchsia pink to icy silver-red and softer coppery burnt rose towards the end of the season. This perennial forms a dense cushion with ever-changing shades. Delicate summer flowering, in the form of slender spikes adorned with cream-white buds, adds to the charm of this sensational variety. It is undemanding and robust, making it ideal for borders or flower beds, or even in flowering pots on the patio or balcony. 

Heuchera 'Red Sea' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. It is a horticultural hybrid obtained by Dirk Scheys in France. The plant will reach approximately 35 cm (14in) in height and 40 cm (16in) in width, forming a large spreading clump. The foliage is the main asset of this plant: the leaves are shiny on the upper side, and their rich hues, a mix of red, pink, copper, and bronze, evolve with the seasons and temperatures. In summer, the dominant colour is dark coppery pink. The underside of the foliage is a more or less purplish fuchsia pink. The flowering, light and airy, starts in June and continues until August. These long spikes of cream-white flowers, dancing in the wind, give a blurry aspect to this romantic flowering, which is difficult to capture on canvas. This plant has a shallow root system, making it sensitive to dry soil.

Planted in the ground, in a shaded and moist rockery or in a line to highlight a pathway, this heuchera will bring dynamism and a touch of fantastic colour to the garden. Combine it with hostas, small grasses (Stipa, Carex), and ferns for a wild effect. It will also be a good companion for shrubs (small Japanese maples, Japanese spireas, shrubby wormwoods) and roses. Pair it with the blue flowers of perennial geraniums or catmints.  Consider heucheras to fill your pots, containers, and flower boxes along with geraniums, for example. A good cut flower, the slender bells of this plant bring a lot of lightness to bouquets.