Heuchera ‘Caramel’
Heucheras have taken off with a bang of late, due to clever plant breeders. In the old days heuchera, (Coral Bells) were “dependable yet boring workhouse plants” with green leaves and red flowers that were thought ‘insignificant’. That’s all changed with the explosion of new varieties. It’s almost impossible to keep track of them all, as they now rival the numbers we see in hostas and daylilies: a collectors dream.
Rudbeckia triloba is a good choice for dry shade; it’s tough and cheerful.
If you garden under large trees, especially beneath Toronto’s numerous Norway Maples, you have four problems.
First: Norway Maples cast a deep shade, perfect for keeping the street or dwelling cool, but limiting what you can grow underneath it. So breeze right past those plant tags with the “full sun” icons.
Second: Norways have shallow roots that fill the top few feet of topsoil in your garden in a fibrous mass. Digging soil is hard enough, but tree roots make the task arduous: you have to slice through the roots with every dip of your spade. Soil clumps often come up in solid shapes. (Upside is, after such a workout, you can have that extra chocolate chip cookie with impunity)
