Coral Bells

How to grow Coral Bells

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in autumn or spring with the crown level with the soil surface, not buried. Good drainage matters more than richness: on heavy clay work in grit and compost, or grow in pots. Works well at the front of a shady border or as edging along a path.

Pruning

Remove flower stems at the base once the wiry stalks brown. Tidy tatty or blackened leaves in early spring rather than autumn, as the old foliage gives the crown some winter protection.

Propagation

Divide clumps every three or four years in spring, discarding the woody centre and replanting the vigorous outer pieces deeper than they were growing. Seed is possible but seedlings vary and named forms will not come true.

Pests and diseases

Vine weevil is the main problem, particularly in containers: the grubs eat the roots and the first sign is usually a plant that lifts out of the soil. Check the roots of any plant that wilts without obvious cause.

Value to wildlife

The slim red flower spikes are worked by bees and are a good long-season nectar source in light shade, where forage is often thin.

Notes

Plants tend to push themselves upwards out of the ground over a few seasons, leaving a bare woody neck. Lift and replant deeper, or divide, when this happens.

Some structured details on this page (such as tolerances, pH and hardiness) come from USDA PLANTS Database (public domain). The written guidance is GardenDecoded's own, researched as described in our editorial policy.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Heuchera sanguinea but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Heuchera