Red Sea Coral Bells

Light Needs

Mature Height

10-12 Inches

Mature Spread

12-18 Inches

Growing Zones

4 to 9

Red Sea Coral Bells is an outstanding foliage plant with maple-shaped leaves in glossy orange-red to deep red. It forms a tight mound about 12–14 inches tall and roughly 12–18 inches wide. Heuchera ‘Ds2’ offers a richer, darker finish than many “red” heucheras that drift toward brown by midsummer. The bonus is the airy spray of small white flowers held above the foliage from late spring into summer. Our landscape designers use it as an edging plant where the deep red tone repeats every few feet and elevates a walkway.

‘Red Sea’ is a clump-forming, semi-evergreen perennial that settles in quickly and reaches its mature size in a few seasons. It’s adaptable to chalk, clay, loam, or sand as long as the soil drains well and stays evenly moist during hot stretches. The woody crown can slowly rise over time, which is normal for coral bells and easy to manage with an annual mulch and occasional replanting. Use it to underplant roses and shrubs, to break up green-heavy borders, or to add dependable color to patio pots where flowers come and go.

Red Sea Coral Bells Care

Grow Red Sea Coral Bells in full sun to partial shade, with light shade in the afternoon in hotter exposures to keep leaves from crisping. Plant in fertile soil that stays moist but well-drained, and target a neutral soil pH around 6.5–7.5. In heavier soils, improve drainage with compost and avoid burying the crown.

Water when the soil surface starts to dry and the newest leaves slightly soften during warm afternoons. Feed lightly in spring with compost or a gentle, balanced fertilizer, since coral bells don’t need heavy feeding to color well. In winter coral bells are typically semi-evergreen, so you may still see foliage, but it can look tired after freeze-thaw weather.

Remove faded flower spikes once bloom finishes to keep the plant focused on fresh leaves. Every 3–4 years, divide and replant to refresh vigor, setting the crown at the same level it was growing so it doesn’t rot. If you garden where vine weevil or rust is common, keeping the crown exposed to airflow and cleaning up damaged leaves helps reduce trouble.

Red Sea Coral Bells Spacing

Space plants about 14–18 inches apart to create a continuous ribbon without crowding. In containers, a 12–14 inch pot is a comfortable one-plant size, or use a wider bowl when mixing companions so the crown stays dry at the base.

In the landscape, pair Red Sea with astilbe and ferns for a moisture-friendly mix that makes the red foliage pop. In containers, combine it with begonias for steady color and lobelia to spill over the rim and soften the edge.

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