Heuchera Midnight Rose - Heuchère, Heuchera, Désespoir du peintre

The Heuchera ‘Midnight Rose’ boasts one of the most distinctive foliage displays among heucheras: a near-black, glossy purple base, speckled with bright pink spots. These spots widen before fading to creamy pink as the summer progresses. This ever-changing variegation, different on every leaf, continually refreshes the appearance of the clump. Compact, very hardy and decorative for a large part of the year, this perennial is highly ornamental in partially shaded borders or in a container on the patio.

Belonging to the Saxifragaceae family, ‘Midnight Rose’ is a hybrid herbaceous perennial resulting from a spontaneous mutation of the Heuchera ‘Obsidian’. It was spotted by Terri C. Poindexter among plants propagated through tissue culture at Behnke Nursery in Maryland, then introduced by Terra Nova Nurseries. Protected by a US patent issued in 2008, it retains the very dark foliage of its parent but stands out with its pink speckling. Its complex ancestry notably includes the North American species Heuchera americana. The plant fairly quickly forms a rounded clump 25 to 30 cm tall and 40 to 45 cm wide. Its basal leaves, borne on long purple petioles, measure 8 to 10 cm in length. They are rounded to slightly ovate, gently cupped, divided into seven shallow lobes and edged with rounded teeth. Their texture is firm and their surface glossy. Young leaves unfurl in a very dark brownish purple, dotted with deep pink; as they age, the base may green or brown slightly and the marbling turns pale pink to cream. Several shades thus coexist within the clump, without its dark character ever disappearing. This change is more pronounced in summer. The foliage is evergreen in mild climates and semi-evergreen elsewhere; the oldest leaves may become damaged in winter before being replaced in spring. Flowering occurs between May and July, depending on the climate, and lasts for several weeks. Slender purple stems rise up to 60 cm and bear airy panicles of small creamy white bells. This flowering is graceful, but the main appeal of this variety remains its foliage. Its hardiness reaches at least -25 °C in well-drained soil. Once established, it tolerates short dry spells, even under the light canopy of deciduous trees, but its foliage remains at its best in soil that retains some moisture. In warm regions, afternoon sun can dull the colours or scorch the leaves; prefer filtered light or morning sun. 

Plant this Heuchera 'Midnight Rose' along a shaded path, at the base of deciduous shrubs or in a pot placed on a patio with little sun. Planted in groups, it creates a dark carpet dotted with pink; planted alone among light-coloured foliage, it forms an interesting contrast in a contemporary garden as well as in a more romantic display. Pair it with the Heuchera ‘Lime Marmalade’, whose chartreuse green brightens its foliage, with the Brunnera macrophylla ‘Looking Glass’, silvery and blue-flowered in spring, and with the foamflower ‘Pink Skyrocket’, whose pinkish white spikes echo its speckling. These perennials also appreciate cool partial shade. In a container, a single clump is enough to dress a display for a long time; choose a light-coloured pot that will highlight all the whimsy of its foliage.