Pioneering heuchera breeder

I’m just back from a visit to check on the work of pioneer Heuchera breeder Charles Oliver. Based in south west Pennsylvania, his introductions, derived from selected forms of east coast native species, were the first of the current generation of Heuchera varieties.

He made the first stride in the dramatic march which heucheras have taken in recent years with the introduction of the Larenim Hybrids in 1988, bringing together the floriferous Bressingham type and a form of the hardy and large-flowered H. pubescens from West Virginia. Later successes include ‘Regina’ (1997), ‘Silver Scrolls’ (1999) and ‘Frosted Violet’ (2002) as well as heucherellas including ‘Quicksilver’ (1997) and tiarellas including ‘Pink Brushes’ (2002). All are still well worth growing and he’s still making new selections and new introductions.

Toughness has always been an important factor in his selection process and it was encouraging to see the rigorous conditions in which his potential new varieties are grown. They’d not been watered at all during the long summer drought and some which were unable to cope with such a severe test had already expired. And after all, dying is the perfect way for weak plants to exclude themselves from further consideration - and further breeding. Only genuinely robust plants survive to be considered. That really is the way to ensure that new introductions are genuinely good garden plants and won’t fade away in less than perfect conditions.

Charles has six new heucheras on the way. Four will be available from nurseries next spring and all four have been selected with emphasis on large and colorful flowers as well as good foliage. They include ‘Moonlight’, with large luminous pale green flowers held on dark crimson stems over prettily patterned smoky purple foliage and ‘Caroline’ with large creamy white flowers opening from dark reddish buds over silvered soft bronze leaves.

Next year sees the arrival of two more, I’ll update you on them when they’re closer to being available. And while continuing to work on these tough heucheras, tiarellas and heucherellas I was intrigued to see what else Charles has in the works. But more on that when they’re ready for release!

For US gardeners: The next four introductions are available exclusively through Monrovia - who sell ony to nurseries, not to gardeners. You can see more about them here – use the zip code search to find a retailer near you - and on Charles Oliver's own website.

For British nurseries: When I have news on the UK availability of these plants, I’ll let you know.