Plant Library

Other Names:  Coralbells, Alumroot

Group/Class:  Primo Series

Brand:  Proven Winners

Description:

An outstanding and exciting cultivar; large, bright rosy-purple leaves with prominent deep gray veining; rosy-pink flowers on dark burgundy stems; creates a stunning visual in the garden; perfect for massing and groundcover applications

Ornamental Features

Wild Rose Coral Bells features dainty spikes of pink bell-shaped flowers with rose overtones rising above the foliage in mid summer. Its attractive large crinkled lobed leaves remain purple in colour with distinctive dark gray veins and tinges of rose throughout the year. The burgundy stems can be quite attractive.

Landscape Attributes

Wild Rose Coral Bells is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Wild Rose Coral Bells is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Wild Rose Coral Bells will grow to be about 10 inches tall at maturity extending to 20 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 28 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 24 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Wild Rose Coral Bells is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.