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Heuchera help

LittleBearsGardenLittleBearsGarden Posts: 5
in Problem solving
Hi all,
I need some help, we designed and planted up a new plant border which includes 15 Purple palace heuchera plants and they all seem to be dying (see picture attached). Is this rust? Are we able to save them, it’s a lot of plants and money just to dig up and throw away after just a few weeks :-( wondering if we cut them back if they might regrow healthy? Or could it be something else that has caused it? 

Grateful for any help! 

Thanks

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    They often look like that after winter. Just take off the damaged foliage. 
    They also might be dry. They prefer moist ground, so a good watering would help. There seems to be a lot of little weeds around them too, so it's a good idea to remove them. 
    They're very easy to propagate from. Small pieces will root easily. 

    The only other issue with heucheras is vine weevil. The grubs eat the roots, but they're less inclined to bother plants in the ground. If you pull the plant and it comes away in your hand, it's weevils. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Agree about the plants being too dry and with all the NE winds we have had for weeks the plants are suffering
  • februarysgirlfebruarysgirl Posts: 835
    With heuchera rust, the surface of the leaves go pimply (for want of a better word) and those definitely don't look pimply. Whereabouts are they planted in the garden? The discolouration looks a lot like the leaves have been scorched in the sun. The darker coloured heucheras aren't as prone to it but they aren't immune. Sometimes when I've bought new ones and put them out, they've gotten scorched even though sun tolerant. However, once spring comes and I've cut all the tatty old leaves off, the new leaves are absolutely fine. I don't know whether it's an acclimatisation thing. As the others have said, they are way, way too dry. Cut all of the old leaves off and water frequently. The new growth will really take off when you do.
  • lavendellavendel Posts: 1
    I have one palace purple heuchera on my windy balcony. A few weeks ago the edges of the leaves went crispy after a very cold and windy few days. I cut off the leaves that looked unsalvageable and now it's thriving again. Maybe you need to protect them somehow by surrounding them with larger plants if they are too exposed? 
  • LittleBearsGardenLittleBearsGarden Posts: 5
    Thanks everyone, we will increase the watering, do some weeding and see how we get on, fingers crossed we can revive them :-)
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