Commonly called coral bells or alum root, plants of the genus Heuchera add year-round ornamental value to shady garden beds with their colorful foliage and slender, delicate flower stalks. Gardeners within U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 4 through 9 can grow coral bells with little effort, although the plants must be divided and transplanted every three years to preserve their normally vibrant appearance. Coral bells transplant effortlessly after division and swiftly establish an extensive new root system. However, they are susceptible to dehydration and must be transplanted immediately after division to prevent stress to the plants.
Divide and transplant coral bells in spring or early fall when the plants are not actively blooming. Wait until a cool, overcast day to transplant, or do it in the morning when the weather is cool and moist.
Water coral bells deeply the night before transplanting them to prevent dehydration and stress. Run a hose at the base of the plant until the soil feels very moist in the top few inches.
Prepare a transplant site for the coral bells before digging them up. Select a partially shaded bed with soil that is similar to the original bed. Weed and amend the bed with a 3-inch-thick layer of compost worked into the top 8 inches of soil.
Measure out 8 to 12 inches around all sides of the coral bell plant. Dig an 8-inch-deep ring around the plant at the 8- to 12-inch mark, using a sharp shovel. Slip the shovel blade underneath the root ball, and pry it from the ground.
Remove just enough soil from the root ball to reveal the ends of the roots. Run water over the root ball to wash away a little more soil. Avoid handling the roots too much, because they break easily.
Cut the root ball into similarly sized portions, each with an equal share of roots and shoots. Position the blade of a sharp, serrated knife between the shoots. Cut straight down through the root ball using a clean, slicing motion.
Wrap the coral bell divisions in a sheet of moist burlap to keep the roots cool and hydrated while you dig the planting holes. Dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball and 2 inches deeper. Space the holes 10 to 24 inches apart.
Fill the bottom 2 1/2 inches of each planting hole with loosened soil. Hold the root ball upright in the hole, and backfill around the roots until the soil reaches the base of the stems.
Firm the soil gently until the base of the stems is level with the surrounding soil. Water each transplant to a depth of 5 inches to hydrate the roots and settle the planting hole.
Spread a 1-inch-thick layer of mulch around the coral bells. Water to a depth of 1 inch twice a week for the first month or two. Avoid letting the soil dry out for more than a day as the transplants put down new roots.
Things You Will Need
- Sharp shovel
- Serrated knife
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension: Heuchera Provides Bold, Colorful Foliage
- University of Missouri Division of Plant Sciences: 2012-Year of the Heuchera
- Iowa State University Reiman Gardens: When to Divide Perennials
- University of Missouri Extension; Flowering Perennials-Characteristics and Culture; Coral Bells
- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chemung County: Dividing Perennials
- University of Illinois Extension; Ground Covers to Know and Use; Coral Bells