In a recent interview, Grace Chapman, director of horticulture at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden, extolled the virtues of heuchera, or coral bells. At the botanical garden they use coral bells as ground covers under trees in the shade gardens and to add pops of color to areas that would otherwise be dark and gloomy.

Coral bells are native to North America. Of the more than 50 species, we have eight here in Virginia. They’re low growing, mounding plants with roughly rounded, toothed leaves that remain on the plants year round. Coral bells prefer well-drained soil in shady to partially shady locations, so they’re ideal for those tough locations in the home garden where not many plants will grow — under large trees, for example.

During the past 20 years, more than 80 cultivars with interesting foliage have been developed by the nursery trade. Coral bells are ubiquitous; both big box stores and specialty garden centers stock them. And why not? They’re tough, relatively deer resistant and available in more colors than hostas. Color choices include burgundy, purple, orange, caramel, chartreuse and almost black foliage. Some coral bells even have splotchy, multi-colored foliage while others have silver veins or deeply ruffled edges. Many of these new cultivars also have increased sun tolerance and can be planted in partial sun.

Because there are so many cultivars available, the Mt. Cuba Center, a research-based horticultural institution and botanical garden in Delaware, conducted a three-year study of all the cultivars available to home gardeners and developed a list of 10 that are especially hardy in the Mid Atlantic area. They include: Apple Crisp, a dwarf variety with green and silver leaves; bronze wave, a large variety with sycamore shaped greenish bronze leaves; Cajun Fire, a reddish purple variety; caramel, a peach to orange-yellow variety; Citronelle, a large variety with bright chartreuse leaves and one of Chapman’s favorites for adding interest to dark spots in the garden; Color Dream, a medium size variety with silvery blue-green leaves; Frosted Violet, another large variety with purple foliage with a silver overlay; Southern Comfort, similar to Caramel, but larger; Spellbound, a medium size plant with cupped leaves that are silver with dark red veins; and Steel City, an extremely tough cultivar that has silvery new growth that ages to a blue-green.

Coral bells are equally attractive when planted in masses or used in groups as an accent. They are also good choices for mixed container gardens. With so many possibilities, there’s bound to be one that’s just right for your garden.

CYNTHIA WOOD is a master gardener who writes two columns for The Herald. Her email is cynthia.crewe23930@gmail.com.