Heuchera americana Linnaeus. Section: Heuchera. Subsection: Heuchera. Common name: American Alumroot. Phenology: Apr-Aug. Habitat: Rocky forests, rock outcrops, particularly where soils are subacidic to circumneutral. Distribution: CT and NY west to s. ON, n. IN, s. IL, and sc. MO south to c. GA, c. AL, n. MS, n. LA, and ne. TX.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Heuchera americana var. heteradenia may warrant recognition, and is likely the basis of some eastern records considered to be H. hirsuticaulis; further study is needed.
Other Comments: H. americana is the most widespread species of Heuchera in e. North America. Within the range of H. caroliniana, H. americana is nearly absent.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Pa, Va; = Heuchera americana L. var. americana – Ar, FNA8, K1, K3, K4, NE, NY, Tn, Schuette et al (2018), Wells (1984); = n/a – Il; < Heuchera americana L. – RAB, Tat, W; > Heuchera americana L. var. americana – F, G, WV; > Heuchera americana L. var. brevipetala Rosend., Butters, & Lakela – G, NcTx, Tx, Rosendahl, Butters, & Lakela (1936); > Heuchera americana L. var. calycosa (Small) Rosend., Butters, & Lakela – Rosendahl, Butters, & Lakela (1936); > Heuchera americana L. var. heteradenia Fernald – F; > Heuchera americana L. var. subtruncata Fernald – F; > Heuchera americana L. var. typica – Rosendahl, Butters, & Lakela (1936); > Heuchera calycosa Small – S, S13; > Heuchera curtisii – S, S13; > Heuchera lancipetala Rydb. – S, S13
Links to other floras: = Heuchera americana var. americana - FNA8
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 4
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect, rosette-forming perennial of rocky forests and rock outcrops, particularly where soils are subacidic to circumneutral.
Stems: Flowering stems arising from a basal rosette, unbranched, mostly leafless, somewhat sticky-hairy.
Leaves: Leaves mostly basal; long-petiolate; round to oval and notched at the base; 1-4 in. long; shallowly palmately divided into 5-9 variously sized, toothed lobes; thick-textured; often white-mottled; may be smooth or hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a narrow, loose, terminal panicle; pink to greenish-white; 1/4 in. or less long; consisting of 5 tiny petals attached to a tiny, sticky-hairy cup-shaped calyx with minute segments. There are 5 protruding stamens.
Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule with 2 persistent styles.
Comments:
Height: 6-10 in.
plant sale text: Beautiful evergreen foliage gives this Southeastern native perennial long-term appeal in the garden. Rosettes of dark green leaves take on a burgundy cast in the winter. Panicles of tiny pinkish-brown bell-shaped flowers rise above its foliage in late spring. In the wild, American alumroot grows in deciduous woods and on rocky outcrops. Plant it at the front of your perennial border. Used medicinally for its astringent properties.
bloom table text:
description: Erect, rosette-forming perennial of rocky forests and rock outcrops, particularly where soils are subacidic to circumneutral.
stems: Flowering stems arising from a basal rosette, unbranched, mostly leafless, somewhat sticky-hairy.
leaves: Leaves mostly basal; long-petiolate; round to oval and notched at the base; 1-4 in. long; shallowly palmately divided into 5-9 variously sized, toothed lobes; thick-textured; often white-mottled; may be smooth or hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a narrow, loose, terminal panicle; pink to greenish-white; 1/4 in. or less long; consisting of 5 tiny petals attached to a tiny, sticky-hairy cup-shaped calyx with minute segments. There are 5 protruding stamens.
fruits: Fruit an oval capsule with 2 persistent styles.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code: 1, 4
native range: eastern North America