Ruby Bells Coral Bells

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Bold-Foliage Coral Bells for Minnesota Shade Gardens Ruby Bells Coral Bells (Heuchera 'Ruby Bells') is a coral bells hand-selected for the Twin Cities climate. Airy spires of small bell-shaped flowers in early summer; bees and hummingbirds visit. Whether you're planting a shaded border in Eden Prairie, layering a foundation bed in Bloomington, or anchoring a perennial bed in Minneapolis — Ruby Bells Coral Bells performs reliably in zone 4b–5a yards. Ruby Bells Coral Bells Plant Details Attribute Detail Scientific Name Heuchera 'Ruby Bells' Common Names Coral Bells, Alumroot Mature Height 8–18 inches Mature Width 12–24 inches Growth Rate Moderate — clump expands 4–8 inches per year Sun Part shade. Tolerates morning sun in Minnesota; afternoon shade keeps foliage from scorching. Water Average. Consistent moisture in the first year; established plants are drought-tolerant. USDA Zones 4–9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) Soil Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam. Prefers well-draining, organic-rich soil — amend with compost at planting. Foliage Semi-evergreen — colorful foliage holds late into fall; foliage tucks down for winter. Winter Hardiness Reliable to -30°F with adequate mulch; mulch crown 2–3 inches in late November. Deer Resistance Strongly deer-resistant. Rabbits also avoid. Bloom Airy spires of small bell-shaped flowers in early summer; bees and hummingbirds visit. Foliage Color See product photo — varies by cultivar Ruby Bells Coral Bells Uses in Minnesota Landscapes Shaded foundation borders Coral Bells form tidy mounds that anchor the front of a shaded bed under mature maples and oaks throughout the Twin Cities. Plant 14–18 inches apart for full coverage in 2 seasons. Container and planter color The colorful foliage holds its show from May through hard frost — perfect for a mixed perennial container on a north-facing porch in Edina, Minneapolis, or St. Paul. Pair with ferns and impatiens. Edging along shaded paths A row of Coral Bells along a flagstone path through a side yard adds month-after-month color where bloom-only perennials would go dull. Best Time to Plant Ruby Bells Coral Bells in Minnesota Fall (late August–early October) is the ideal planting window. Soil is still warm for root development, cool air reduces transplant stress, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before ground freeze (typically mid-November in the Twin Cities). Spring (late April–May) is the second-best window — the plant gets the full growing season to establish before its first winter. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible. Never plant after mid-October or before late April — frozen ground or frost-heaving kills new roots. How to Plant Ruby Bells Coral Bells Dig wide, not deep. 2–3× the root ball width, same depth as the container. Heavy clay benefits from even wider digging. Check drainage. Fill the hole with water — if it doesn't drain in 30 minutes, mound-plant or break through any clay hardpan to improve drainage. Backfill with native soil + 20–30% compost. Minnesota clay-loam benefits from organic amendment but don't create a "container" of pure compost. Spacing. Refer to the mature width above and space accordingly. Closer for mass plantings, wider for individual specimen plants. Water basin. Build a 3–4 inch ring around the planting to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove before winter to avoid ice damage. Mulch. 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk or crown. Do NOT use gravel mulch in Minnesota — it doesn't insulate. Watering Ruby Bells Coral Bells in Minnesota First Year Watering Schedule Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes per plant) Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages ~3 inches/month June–August) Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in the Twin Cities metro) to avoid pushing late-season growth that gets killed by winter After Year One Established plants only need supplemental water during droughts (2+ weeks with no rain and temps above 80°F). Water deeply and infrequently — every 7–14 days during dry spells, soaking to 6–8 inches depth. Let natural rainfall do most of the work. Will Coral Bells survive a Minnesota winter? Yes — they are reliably hardy to zone 4. The crown can be heaved by alternating freeze-thaw cycles, so mulch 2–3 inches deep around the crown in late fall and check in early spring to push any heaved plants back down. Are Coral Bells deer-resistant? Strongly. Deer almost universally pass over Heuchera, making them a top pick for high-pressure deer suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, Eden Prairie, and Chanhassen. How much sun do Coral Bells need in Minnesota? Part shade is ideal. Morning sun with afternoon shade gives the best foliage color without scorching. Deeper colors and red-leaved varieties tolerate slightly more sun than chartreuse or silver varieties. Do Coral Bells tolerate clay soil? Yes, with amendment. Dig 2–3x the root ball width and mix 20–30% compost into the backfill. Avoid planting in low spots that hold standing water — they prefer well-drained soil. You May Also Like Shop the full Three Timbers Minnesota catalog — zone 4-hardy plants hand-selected for Twin Cities yards Deer-Resistant Plants — for high-pressure suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Eden Prairie Pollinator Garden Plants — supports the Lawns to Legumes program How Many Ruby Bells Coral Bells Do I Need? Coral bells form tidy mounds; space them about 16 inches apart for a continuous shade-carpet edge. For a front-of-border ribbon: Border Run Plants Needed (16 in. apart) 5 ft 4 10 ft 8 15 ft 11 20 ft 15 For a layered, naturalistic look, plant in groups of 3–5. Ruby Bells Coral Bells Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Mounded foliage flushes fresh from the crown as the bed wakes up. Summer: Airy spires of small bell-shaped flowers rise in early summer, drawing bees and hummingbirds. Fall: The colorful foliage holds its show well past the first frosts when bloom-only perennials have faded. Winter: Semi-evergreen foliage tucks down; mulch the crown 2–3 inches to prevent frost-heave. At a Glance ✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Four-Season Interest Plant It With Obsidian Coral Bells — near-black foliage for dramatic contrast in the same shade bed. Palace Purple Coral Bells — bronze-purple leaves that layer beautifully with Ruby Bells. Peach Tea Foamy Bells — warm peach-toned foliage to brighten the grouping. Japanese Painted Fern — silvery fronds soften the edge and complement the colored leaves. Is Ruby Bells Coral Bells Right for Your Yard? Ruby Bells thrives in part shade — morning sun with afternoon shade — in well-drained, compost-amended soil, and it's a standout for high-pressure deer suburbs since deer reliably pass it over. It is not a fit for hot, all-day sun, which scorches the foliage, or for low spots that hold standing water over winter and rot the crown. Show more