Obsidian Heuchera Plants

Heuchera Obsidian

Dark and compact, this near-black, deep purple variety suits either pots, or the front of the border.

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Features

• Colour: cream-white bells
• Flowering: May-Jul
• Foliage: evergreen – very dark purple, scalloped
• Height: 45cm
• Spread: 30cm
• Spacing: 30cm
• Position: dappled shade
• Soil: moist, well drained
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

In the garden

Before planting, dig in some well-rotted garden compost. They're happy on most soils, as long as you improve the drainage of heavy clay, or keep them watered in summer if you have dry soil. The great thing about this group of plants is that they'll thrive in either dappled shade all day, or over half a day of full shade. In particular, if you have a spot that is in full shade around noon and the early afternoon, these fellows will love it, because full midday sun in summer can burn their leaves a bit.

Heucheras have a tendency to gradually work themselves out of the soil, so give them a mulch of garden compost or leaf mould around the crown each spring to settle them back in.
Divide your plants every two or three years to keep them looking their best.

History and Trivia

Obsidian is volcanic glass, and was the sharpest material available for most of human history: no steel blade can be hand-polished anywhere near as razor-sharp as a perfect flake of obsidian. It is still sometimes used as a surgical scalpel for work that is too fine for a metal knife.