How to Propagate Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Brandon Pinks)

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How to Propagate Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Brandon Pinks)

This guide is meant to teach you how to propagate Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Brandon Pinks) and hopefully make it easier for you to sell them at your own nursery.

Hardiness Zone: 2- 9

Soil Type: Well-drained sand, clay, loam

Water: Average

Exposure: Full Sun, Partial Shade, or Full Shade

Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Brandon Pinks) is a perennial shrub hardy up to zone 2. It’s a small shrub that produces long stalks adorned with small pink bell-shaped flowers.

It does especially well in shade, which makes it a nice understory flower around your bigger trees.

Coral bells are low maintenance, they are perfect for rock gardens and woodland paths.

Additionally, heuchera flowers are long lasting, they can bloom from late spring all the way until mid summer.

Wildlife Value

Coral bells attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, but they are also a favorite of hummingbirds.

Generally deer and rabbit resistant.

Best Way to Propagate Coral Bells

Division

Division is the easiest way to propagate coral bells. In fact, you will have to divide them over the years to keep them alive.

Coral bells grow in clumps, and each clump can be separated to create more plants. Here’s how:

  • Dig out your coral bell.
  • Bunch together a clump of stems.
  • Separate the clump from the main plant.

Two things can happen:

  1. You get a clump with roots: Plant the clump back into a pot with soil, let it grow again.
  2. You get a clump with no roots and a heel: Dip in rooting hormone, then plant them into your sandy propagation beds.

Coral bells have soft stems, which means they’ll root quickly within 3-4 weeks. Water frequently in the first two weeks, then water regularly.

The best time to divide coral bells is when the plant is not actively blooming. Divide them early Spring or late Summer to early Fall.

One well-established plant can give you many clones, sometimes more than 10. Don’t divide again for another 3-4 years.

How to Prepare Coral Bells for Sale

It’s simple enough, once your rooted cuttings are ready, transplant into pots with soil. Well-drained loam rich in organic matter is the best soil to plant coral bells into.

Let them grow throughout the season, water them well and they’ll be perfect.

It’s one of those plants that you don’t really need to prune, it grows naturally into a beautiful bush shape.

Voila!

Still trying to figure out how to start your plant nursery? Check out our plant nursery guide here.