Heuchera Stainless Steel

From the tough, hardy breeding lines of Charles and Martha Oliver of the Primrose Path, we are proud to bring you Heuchera 'Stainless Steel'. This is a medium-sized heuchera with silvery-metallic new growth. Each new leaf is almost completely silver, except for a thin tracery of dark veining. As the leaves mature, the veining becomes much more pronounced and the overall effect is a cooling, sea foam green that will brighten up any shady spot. Mature leaves reach three to four inches across and have a contrasting underside of deep, eggplant purple. Stainless Steel has relatively large white flowers that are displayed on tall chocolate brown stalks, in loose panicles reaching 18 inches tall.

The plant is a cross of a garden hybrid back into an unusual wild population of Heuchera pubescens, giving it the toughness of that wild parent. When planted in more sun, the leaves get a mauvy glow, but in part or full shade, they truly are, well, stainless steel—perhaps platinum would have also been a good name. The undersides of the leaves are celery green and the veins are a bright, pinkish-maroon. The overlay of pure silver is breathtaking, especially in the morning sun. This is one tough, beefy plant that tackles drought, too much water, too much snow, and too much sunlight with an amazing attitude. It's like it says, "Bring it on…I can handle it all!" The only thing that could make this plant even better are its florist quality, creamy pink blooms. They certainly throw this plant to the top of our list for plants you NEED to grow.

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