# Coral Bells (*Heuchera sanguinea Engelm.*)

Coral Bells, also known as Heuchera, are colorful plants with bell-shaped flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. They are often found in gardens and woodland areas.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Habitat:** Woodland areas
- **Also known as:** Alum Root, Heuchera

![Coral Bells](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Heuchera_sanguinea0.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heuchera_sanguinea0.jpg)

## Appearance

The Coral Bells has a dense mound of lobed, often colorful leaves that can range from lime green to deep burgundy or silver. Delicate, bell-shaped flowers bloom on tall, slender stalks, swaying gracefully above the foliage in shades of pink, red, or white. Its frilly, vibrant leaves make it stand out from typical green garden plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Saxifragales
- **Family:** Saxifragaceae
- **Genus:** Heuchera

## Interesting facts

- Coral Bells leaves come in so many colors, you can find almost every shade of the rainbow.
- Hummingbirds love to visit Coral Bells, sipping nectar from their delicate, tube-shaped flowers.
- Its tiny bell-shaped flowers inspired its name, looking like a chorus of little garden bells!
- Some Coral Bells varieties have leaves that are so shiny, they look like they're covered in glitter!

## Special abilities

- **Winter Survivor:** Coral Bells can keep its leaves vibrant through winter, thanks to tough roots that store energy to survive cold weather.
- **Shade Seeker:** Coral Bells has broad leaves that help it capture sunlight efficiently, allowing it to thrive even in shady garden spots.
- **Deer Deterrent:** Coral Bells can avoid being eaten by hungry deer because its leaves have a slightly bitter taste that they dislike.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Sips nectar from flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects pollen and nectar.
- **Eats:** [Black Vine Weevil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-vine-weevil) (*Otiorhynchus sulcatus*) — Larvae feed on roots.

## Traits

- [Perennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/perennial): Perennial plants live for more than two years, typically returning to grow and bloom each year from their roots.
- [Bell-Shaped Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/bell-shaped-flower): Bell-shaped flowers possess petals fused or arranged to form a cup-like or campanulate structure resembling a bell.
- [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)
- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Enjoy looking at Coral Bells in nature, but avoid touching or eating them as some plants can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Coral Bells?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Coral Bells?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Coral Bells spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Coral Bells?

0.5-1 cm

### When does Coral Bells bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is Coral Bells edible?

Yes

### Is Coral Bells toxic?

None

### What is Coral Bells's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Coral Bells: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral-bells)