Heuchera Dark Magic

The Heuchera or Heuchera Dark Magic boasts large textured foliage in a rich almost black-purple shade with brown highlights. A new variety for fans of dark plants, this dramatic cultivar reveals ruby-red nuances. Of tall stature, it maintains beautiful foliage all year round, both in summer and winter. Above this large cushion of leaves, arched stems bear a white cloudy flowering at the end of summer, exuding infinite lightness. This Heuchera is a bit of a gourmet, requiring fertile and moist soil. It tolerates heat fairly well, but not intense sunlight. It's worth noting that it retains beautiful foliage and a lovely habit for several years without needing division. In the garden, it stands out as a border or in a mass planting, and on the terrace, it decorates pots that stand out from the usual choices.

Heuchera Dark Magic belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. While its exact parentage is unknown, it is likely a presumed descendant of Heuchera americana, a highly ornamental species native to the central and northern United States. This dark foliage cultivar is a vigorous hybrid that quickly makes an impact in the garden, as well as in containers. The plant typically reaches 60 cm in height (for the foliage) and 50-60 cm wide in 3-4 years. This Heuchera forms a lovely upright clump that maintains an attractive appearance for several years before needing division for rejuvenation. Its evergreen foliage is the major asset of this plant: its textured leaves are rather upright and rounded, with intensely lobed lamina, slightly toothed at the edges. The foliage's colour is particularly striking as it remains highly durable throughout the seasons, with a shiny appearance. It blends dark purple, almost black, with brown and touches of red. The flowering of this variety, quite discreet, light and airy, begins in July or August and continues until September. The small white bell-shaped flowers are arranged along an upright stem.

Heuchera Dark Magic is quite a striking feature for partially shaded areas of the garden, even slightly dry in summer. Its foliage remains decorative throughout the year, and its flowering adds a lot of lightness to any setting. For example, combine it with the blue blooms of Forget-me-nots, Omphalodes verna, Brunneras, Ajugas, Columbines, Campanulas, or the lush foliage of Hostas, always away from the sun's intensity. It always pairs well with Tiarellas. It thrives in containers, alongside grasses like Carex testacea and Agropyron magellanicum. In a small shaded rockery, it complements small ferns like Adiantum pedatum, or the beautiful marbled foliage of Asarum splendens. When planted en masse, it forms an unusual border along an east-facing walkway.