Perennial of the Month-- January 2012 

(hue' ker-ah) (pronunciation at link, turn up volume if too low)

Common name:  Dark Secret coralbells, alum root

Family:  Saxifrage, Saxifragaceae

Height x width: 10-12in x 12-16in.

Growth rate, habit: moderate, mounded clump

Foliage: dark very ruffled (from Crimson Curls parent) and dark purple leaves (from Obsidian parent) with silvery cast (from Frosted Violet parent) on top, reddish underneath

Flowers:  creamy small bells on purple stems 15-18in. tall, above foliage, midsummer

Hardiness: USDA zones 4-9

Soil:  moist, well-drained, good organic matter

Light: full sun (if sufficient water) north to part shade south

Pests and problems:  none significant

Landscape habit, uses:  borders, containers with annuals for foliage effect, woodland and shade gardens or borders, massed, edging, cut flowers, bees; combines well with yellow sedges, silver-leaved bugloss, other coralbells especially with contrasting colors, miniature blue-leaved hosta, viola, lungwort (part shade), corydalis, short dicentra

Other interest: introduced in 2008, from Luc Klinkhamer of CNB Greenteam of Lisse, Holland; a hybrid seedling of 'Obsidian', 'Crimson Curls' and 'Frosted Violet', with traits from each; one of the top cultivars so far in Vermont trials as of fall 2011;  genus named for an 18th century German botanist J.H. von Heucher; similar to Tiarella only with 5 stamens in flowers rather than 10 for the latter, and showy parts usually sepals not petals as in latter

Other culture: low maintenance, plants easily frost heave as they are shallow-rooted, to avoid plant crowns 1" below soil surface and mulcha around plants but leave crowns uncovered; where frost heaving is not a problem, plant slightly above the soil surface to prevent rots; remove spend flower stalks for prolonged bloom and aesthetics; avoid heavy clay soils or soils with very acidic pH;

Propagation:  commercially from licensed propagators (USPP20683), at home from basal cuttings midsummer

Sources:  many online and local specialty nurseries