Red Lightning Coral Bells

Light Needs

Full Shade to Partial Shade

(0 - 4 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

11-18 Inches

Mature Spread

16 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Grown primarily for its beautiful chartreuse green to yellow leaves that have wonderful red ‘lightning’ track veins on them, Red Lightning is an evergreen in many regions of its hardiness zone. It flowers in late spring, early summer and has tiny creamy white bell flowers that are suspended on thin stems above the bright foliage. Butterflies and hummingbirds will appreciate the flowers. It is one of the few varieties of Coral Bells that do well in hot humid summer temperatures, making it truly flexible for most gardeners across the United States.

Native to the Eastern United States in the Appalachian mountain range, H. villosa is typically found growing on rocky slopes and mountainsides. Its geranium-like leaves are its best feature and it is great for brightening up partial to full shade gardens. Hardy in Zones 4 to 9, Red Lightning Coral Bell looks great planted in large drifts of bright foliage, or as accents to other shade loving perennials. Coastal gardeners will be pleased to know that they are heat, humidity and salt tolerant. Deer and rabbits rarely browse on them, making them the perfect woodland edge garden inhabitant.

Red Lightning Coral Bells Care

Care and maintenance for this lovely foliar perennial is easy. Plant them in partial shade, less than 4 hours of sun per day, and in full shade in hot summer regions. They grow in humus rich loose soils with an average pH range of 5.5 to 6.2, tending more toward the neutral side. Water regularly for best performance, about 1 inch per week when natural rainfall is inadequate, especially if grown in a more sunny location. Leaf burn is possible with too much sun. Fertilizer is generally not needed. Mulch to protect the root zone in particularly harsh winter regions.

Deadheading is recommended to extend the bloom period, however, these plants are best enjoyed as foliage plants. Cut stems down to the foliage for the best appearance. This plant is evergreen in some climates. Clean up dead foliage in late winter, early spring in areas it is not evergreen in. Divide clumps every 3 to 4 years. Due to its propensity to grow in rocky shaded woodlands, this plant looks lovely when included in a shaded rock garden. It also makes an attractive foreground plant or ground cover under taller shade perennials and shrubs.

Red Lightning Coral Bells Spacing

Space your plants about 16 inches apart to give room to spread out. At maturity, Red Lightning will grow about 18 inches tall and spread out 16 inches wide. If you are on the lookout for a great looking shade foliage plant with the added benefit of spring to summer flowers for the butterflies and hummingbirds, look no further than Red Lightning Coral Bells to brighten your shade garden this spring.