Man has learned not only to cultivate plants and get new varieties but also to crossbreed different species and get new ones. That is what we are going to talk about today.
The main difference between Heuchera And Heucherella is the leaves. Heuchera has more rounded and less lobed leaves while Heucherella has more pronounced and pointed lobes. In addition, Heucherella needs slightly more moist soil whereas Heuchera can tolerate short droughts.
Heucherella is a hybrid of Heuchera and Tiarella. As a result, it has a unique combination of the characteristics of both parents.
Next, I will go into more detail about the differences between these plants. If you want to know more about growing Heuchera, read this guide.
Leaves
Heuchera and heucherella leaves.
Both plants have beautiful leaves 3-4 inches across. The leaves are attached to the stem by long leaf petioles.
Heucherella has inherited more dissected leaves from Tiarella. Its leaf lobes are much more pronounced and very often also divided into even smaller lobes. The tips of the lobes are narrower and more elongated.
Heuchera has more rounded leaves. The lobes of the leaves are much less pronounced. The leaf margin is only wavy but has no deep dissections. Some species have a serrated edge but the cuts are still not deep.
As for leaf color, both plants have many varieties of different colors. There are even two or three-color varieties. But in general, Heuchera has more variations because its cultivation has a longer history. Now you can even find variegated heucheras.
Flowers
Heuchera and heucherella flowers.
The second noticeable difference is the flowers. Both species have flower stalks about 2 feet tall. Heuchera villosa has the longest flower stalks, which can exceed 2 feet in height.
Their inflorescences are elongated, narrow panicles. Heucherella has larger panicles which it gets from Tiarella. The panicles are larger in diameter and have many more flowers. When Heucherella blooms it looks amazing.
Heuchera on the other hand has looser inflorescences with fewer flowers. Some species look very poor during flowering. The panicle is not as large and even shorter in length than the Heucherella.
As for flower color, Heuchera has brighter flowers. Their color can be deep red or pink. At the same time, Heucherella has light pink or white flowers. Heuchera is superior to Heucherella in color.
Shape
Both Heuchera and Heucherella have approximately the same shape. It is usually a rounded bush 1-2 feet across and about the same height.
But Heucherella has a more trailing habit, which it also inherited from Tiarella. Heucherella sort of sprawls out in different directions. Some varieties can have stems 3 feet long. Heucherella ‘Yellowstone Falls’ is one such variety.
Heuchera, on the other hand, usually has a shorter but thicker stem to which a large number of leaves are attached. At first, the stem grows upright but after some time it will also elongate and curl up but this will take much longer.
It must be said that not all Heucherella have a trailing habit. Some have a very similar shape to Heuchera. And this is an advantage because by choosing Heucherella you can get either a rounded bush or a creeping plant.
Watering
Heucherella is more moisture-loving than its competitor. It needs to be watered after the soil has dried 1 inch, which may not be very convenient in a drought.
On the other hand, it is more tolerant of overwatering. If you water too often or with too much water, you may not get root rot with Heucherella. This also means that it tolerates clay soil better because it is not afraid of moisture around the roots.
Heuchera, on the other hand, is less moisture-loving. It can even tolerate a short drought. It should only be watered when the soil is about 2 inches dry. The only exception to this is the potted heuchera.
It follows that Heuchera does not tolerate all types of soil very well. If you have clay soil in your yard you need to improve it by adding organic matter. As a result, the substrate must be well-drained. In addition, in some cases, you will need drainage of stones under the bush
Sun tolerance
Heucherella is a more shade-loving plant. It can grow in full shade and will have beautifully colored leaves. It is better suited for planting under trees and in shady places.
It can also tolerate some amount (about 4 hours) of direct sunlight. It is better that it be in the soft morning light.
What it definitely doesn’t need is direct sun all day because then it will get sunburned. Even a few hours of afternoon sun can damage the leaves.
Heuchera, on the other hand, is more tolerant of direct sunlight. This is especially true of the darker varieties. The burgundy or purple heucheras can grow in full sun all day. Whereas the yellow and light green ones still need some shade.