Coral bells 'Fire Alarm'

Heuchera 'Fire Alarm'

Coral bells 'Fire Alarm' is a perennial for edging, groundcover, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or acid soil, flowering Jun, Jul.

Where to use it in a border

At around 30 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 40 cm of room to spread, roughly 2 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 4a to 9a and rated H6 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, acid soil, evergreen plants, pollinator-friendly plants, pet-safe plants.

Border Builder uses Coral bells 'Fire Alarm''s height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• Evergreen, so it keeps the border furnished through winter.
• It tolerates acid soil but dislikes shallow chalk.
• It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• David Viburnumfor height behind it
• Japanese Araliafor height behind it
• Black mondo grassto edge in front
• Lily Turfto edge in front
• Spotted Laurelfor height behind it
• Upright Plum Yewfor height behind it

Garden styles

Formal Modern Shade cottage Woodland