Spice Curls™ Coral Bells

Light Needs

Mature Height

8-12 Inches

Mature Spread

12-18 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Spice Curls™ Coral Bells brings a dense, ruffled mound of silvery purple foliage with red undersides that holds its color even through summer. Each clump reaches around 12–14 inches tall and 14–16 inches wide, and stays compact unlike looser, leggier heuchera that can open up midseason. Its red flower spikes rise above the leaves from spring through summer.  We like using it when a planting needs a “dark-and-bright” foliage contrast without relying on flowers to carry the show. 

Heuchera × ‘Holtspcur856’ is a semi-evergreen perennial in many gardens, keeping a good amount of foliage through winter in milder zones, then flushing fresh leaves as temperatures warm. The curled leaf texture gives it a lot of surface shimmer, and the red undersides add depth when the plant is slightly elevated in a container or on a low wall. It’s also a useful pollinator support plant, with nectar for bees and butterflies when the flower stalks are up. Slip it along a walkway edge, into a rock-garden pocket, or as a repeat accent in mixed shade-to-sun beds for consistent foliage structure all season.

Spice Curls™ Coral Bells Care

Grow in full sun to part sun, with part shade especially helpful in hotter climates to keep the leaves from looking stressed. Plant in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil; a slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 6.0–7.0) is a safe target for heuchera. Keep the crown slightly above the soil line and never bury it, because that’s where rot usually starts.

Water when the top inch of soil dries, and watch the leaves: a slight midday droop that rebounds by evening is normal in heat, but persistent limp foliage means it’s time for a deeper soak. In spring, a light application of a balanced slow-release fertilizer or compost around the clump is enough, since heavy feeding can soften growth. 

Trim off tattered leaves in early spring to make room for fresh growth, then remove spent flower stalks once the show fades to keep the mound looking crisp. If the clump ever lifts or shows a “woody” crown after a few seasons, tuck a little soil or compost around it and consider dividing in early spring to reset vigor. If your winter is cold, the plant may look rough by late winter, but it should rebound when temps warm. In containers, add a thin mulch layer in winter and shield the pot from repeated freeze-thaw swings to protect the roots.

Spice Curls™ Coral Bells Spacing

Space plants 12–14 inches apart so they create a neat ribbon without crowding the crown. For pots, a 12–14 inch container fits one plant well, or use a 16–18 inch container if you want to add companions. In the landscape, pair it with astilbe for feathery bloom contrast and ferns for a softer backdrop. For a sunnier edge, work in sedum nearby to echo the tidy mound shape with a different leaf finish. In containers, combine it with begonias for seasonal bloom and a small spill of bacopa to highlight the red leaf undersides as it trails.

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