Heuchera Rio

As its name suggests, Heuchera 'Rio' is a carnival of flamboyant colours. Its evergreen foliage changes with each season, igniting the front of beds and containers. Covering a range of oranges, reds, and browns, with multiple subtle shades, it is always warm. Its white flowering adds an additional charm with grace and lightness. It attracts a ballet of butterflies. This compact perennial appreciates moist, light, rather rich soils, and thrives in all exposures.

Present in our gardens in Europe for a long time and often inseparable from grandmother's gardens, Heuchera was rediscovered at the end of the 20th century thanks to hybridisation work that revealed an infinite variety of foliage colours. The basic colours are already multiple: from green to black, passing through pink, red, and brown, each cultivar is unique. Moreover, the lamina is often veined with a deeper shade that accentuates the contrast. Finally, the whole evolves according to temperatures, covering a rich range of colours, sometimes different from one leaf to another. It is impossible not to find "the" palette that suits you, even if you have something very specific in mind!

'Rio' is particularly warm. It covers a range of oranges, reds, and browns with great finesse. It moves through shades of peach, with amber or purple reflections. The colours will brighten up the dismal winter garden and bring cheer to any gardener.

Its size is quite compact: 30cm (12in) tall with a spread of 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in). It fits everywhere: in small gardens, in groups, on the edge of large beds of grasses or dahlias, at the foot of roses and shrubs...the possibilities are endless. It forms a tuft of leaves with long petioles. These are deeply lobed, beautifully veined, and measure from 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in). From June onwards, long red stems stand out clearly above the foliage and bear clusters of small white bells, which light up the whole plant. It is a hardy perennial that requires no maintenance and prefers moist, well-drained soils. It can be placed in the sun (avoid scorching exposures, however), in shade, and in partial shade.

'Rio' will thrive in a tone-on-tone composition with Heuchera 'Peach Crisp', H. 'Fire Chief', H. 'Pinot Gris', and H. 'Peach Flambé'. Together, they will form a dense and luminous ground cover in woodland areas, at the base of a wall, or in containers near doorways. To welcome autumn with fervour, place it next to late bloomers such as Chrysanthemum 'Mary Stoker' or Helenium 'Sahin's Early Flowerer', or with grasses and sedums.