My question is how many people are having survival success with the new Heucherellas?

I have a order sitting while I debate if I should spend the money for a plant that may not survive. I have stopped spending anything over 5 bucs for Heucheras because they are iffy at best if they will survive. I am having better luck with the Heucheras now that I have found a spot in the garden they seem to like. I am thinking of branching out to the Heucherellas.

I have done a search and it appears a Pennsylvania trial garden PRIMROSE PATH have tested this new plant and are saying that they are not viable unless grown under ideal condition in a greenhouse or Washington area. I think the article is about 2 years old so improvements might have been made. It seems Terra Nova is pumping them out like eye candy for the big bucks without any thought if they are really as hardy as their tag is saying.

I have ordered already for Spring deliver
Sweet Tea and Golden Zebra These will come as free plants to me because another order that was sent from the vendor of other plants did not survive. So I could be wasting my free money on another type of plant that will not survive?

I am thinking of ordering Solar Eclipse.

Any opinions or experience with these plants?

Thank you for sharing your opinion.

Karen

Anyhoo...years ago I got a gold leafed Heucherella from a neighbor. Can't recall exactly which one it was, perhaps 'Stoplight' or some such? It has been a total dud and has never bulked up or gotten much bigger. Two years ago I found a bunch of Heuchera and Heucherella on sale at Lowes for $3 each, so picked up Heucherella 'Kimono' and 'Alabama Sunrise'.

'Alabama Sunrise' has done a lot better than the other gold leafed one I have. Still, I would say it does seem to be a bit delicate. I've got it in a fairly cool and shady spot (with superb drainage) now, but I have a feeling it wouldn't thrive as much in a less-than-ideal situation.

Here is a pic of it with Ballota acetabulosa:

H. 'Kimono' has really surpassed my expectations though. Very robust plant and tolerated the cr*appy spot I put it in first year (under a red twig dogwood) until I could get its new home ready. Like it a lot!

Here it is with Filipendula ulmaria 'Aurea'

-CPG, how long have you had 'Sweet Tea'? I just got it this summer and was impressed by it too. It kept churning out a good amount of new foliage all summer and didn't seem to mind the less than ideal spot I put it in. I happened to like the color a lot. It compliments the brownish stems of my 'Chocolate Stars' Corydalis nicely. Hope it makes it thru the winter okay...

CMK

christinmk, I guess they are comparing Pennsylvania weather as a comparison. I have found the zone does not seem to be the effect on certain plants as we believe. It is the amount of snow cover and rain that makes the difference. In my case a cold winter and no snow cover zone 6 would really be a zone 4-5.

This zone thing is crazy. LOL

Agriculture Canada scientists created a plant hardiness map using Canadian plant survival data and a wider range of climatic variables, including minimum winter temperatures, length of the frost-free period, summer rainfall, maximum temperatures, snow cover, January rainfall and maximum wind speed.

So for now it is the US hardiness zones that seem lacking in the # of variables taken into account.

Karen