This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.
Heuchera obsidian
Stevedaylilly
Posts: 1,102
in Plants
I was just wondering if any has Heuchera Osbidian planted in part or deep shade. I have just ordered a plug set of 12 plants and know that they will survive quite well in part shade if watered well and will adapt to that location as the plant matures.
But if anyone can confirm if they have planted these in deep shade and have they performed well
0
Posts
Hi Steve, I haven't grown Obsidian, but all the dark ones are happy in some shade.
Only drawback is that you need something bright behind to set them off or they tend to disappear into the background...
Gold/yellow foliaged plants are a good foil for them
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Like Fairygirl I don't have H. obsidian either but I do have lots heucheras and all my dark leaved ones have done well in shade. In fact, the only ones that didn't do well were planted in full sun which is why I moved them. Fairy: I use other heucheras (yellow and lime green) to set off the dark ones. Citronelle and Key Lime Pie almost glow in the dark!
I grow them in shade and they are fine. Hope you don't have vine weevilswhre you are though as they can munch through them, so I propagate every year. I combine with Tiarella Iron Butterfly, which has the purple patches on its leaves to echo the colour of the dark leaves of Obsidian, and Aquilegia Purple Emperor, (lime green foliage and purple flowers). Hellebores also in the mix and another heuchera with pale pink flowers that look good against the Obsidian, Thalictrum, and a bronzy Ajuga, Dicentra.....
Hi Fairygirl
Yes , there possibly the darlkest Heuchere in that species with basically black foliage. As it's going under shade I will plant then alongside existing variagated hosts's so hopefully should be a good colour combination. The concern is that I can not really improve the light to this area and, st best it's part to dense shade
Agree with Bob and FG about the contrast. Someone posted a picture ages ago with Key Lime Pie against Sambuca nigra, which has similar coloured leaves to your Obsidian, and it was stunning. I have heucherella Alabama sunrise which has a darker maroon vien and it would be a good foil too.
Let us know how you get on steve and post pics for nosy people (me). I have a really dark area that will need planted eventually and I'm dreading starting.
Thank you all for your reponses. I will post some photos later in the season of how I got on with combining Obsidian
Plant pauper. I understand your concern as my dense shade is caused by a 6' brick wall that is a great feature but obviously in main reason for creating that dense shade. But us gardeners if nothing, are always up for a challenge and if we need advice we can always ask for it on this great blog
Happy Gardening
Some white flowering shrubs and perennials that are out at the same time will help give you a contrast too gfsteve. I use one of the bright shrubby loniceras for a good backdrop to purple foliage. Bright, acidic green is good as a foil. Alchemilla mollis is great as long as you deadhead religiously!
The Acteas are tricky for that reason too - the foliage is almost black on them too. I have a buddleia behind mine as the grey/green leaves provide a bit of a lift. Another one has a pale wall behind it.
I have that Heucheralla too pp. It's terrific.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Fairy girl
Thanks for the suggestions on complementing H Obsidian. You having given me idea about using white flowered astilbe. I ordered 3 white astilbe last year that have a very dark folliage and brilli whiter than white flower. Unfortunately, I can not remember the actual name of that astilbe but hopefully I will find it out
Thats strange Bob, because a specialist grower at Hampton Court told me, the lighter leaf ones should be planted in shade, the darker the leaf the more strong sun they will be OK with and this is what I have gone with!