Heuchera Cascade Dawn

Heuchera 'Cascade Dawn' boasts decorative dark purple foliage covered with a silvery white veil and adorned with prominent violet-purple veins. In late spring and early summer, its cream-white flowers bloom in light clusters. The blooms can be used to create poetic bouquets. This evergreen variety develops into a dense cushion, and remains decorative throughout the year. Not demanding, it thrives in any fertile garden soil that remains somewhat moist in summer. It is a charming perennial for borders or semi-shaded containers.

'Cascade Dawn' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. This excellent small garden perennial is a horticultural hybrid, recently obtained by Terra Nova, a North American nursery specialised in creating new heuchera cultivars with increasingly surprising colours and remarkable vigour.

'Cascade Dawn' will reach about 30cm (12in) in height for the foliage and 45cm (18in) in width in 4 to 5 years. It forms a dense, low mound of leaves. The foliage is the plant's main asset: its round, lobed leaves are strongly pink-coloured when they emerge. At maturity, they are invaded with metallic silver-grey reflections and adorned with striking violet-purple veins. The leaves have a red-purple underside. The light and airy flowering occurs in June-July. The cream-white bell-shaped flowers are arranged along an erect, purple-coloured stem, 40 to 45 cm (16 to 18in) tall, which dominates the cushion of leaves. This plant has a shallow root system. It does not tolerate dry soil well.

Heuchera 'Cascade Dawn' is a gem for enhancing the border of a gently sunny path or a semi-shaded and cool rockery. Plant it near a walkway to be able to admire it as often as possible. It also adapts perfectly to container cultivation. It will bring a touch of mystery and poetry to the garden. In partial shade or even full shade, plant it with hostas, carex, and painted ferns (Athyrium niponicum var. pictum 'Red Beauty') for a wild effect. It is also an ideal ground cover, with remarkable colours, and is superb at the base of roses. Combine this heuchera with the 'Crème Brûlée' cultivar or with blue or pink flowers, forget-me-nots, corydalis, or lungworts. Heuchera is perfect for filling your pots, containers, and large shaded planters. A good cut flower, the delicate bells of this plant bring lightness to bouquets.