prairie alum root

Heuchera richardsonii (prairie alum root) have tiny greenish, bell-shaped flowers in open airy panicles that come from a wiry stem that extends above the mound of leaves in spring and early summer.

It is a clump-forming coral bells species native to the Chicago region. Best grown in organically rich, dry to medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun to part shade. It features a 12-18″ tall basal clump of heart-shaped, shallow-lobed, long-petiole, green leaves, which shows some white mottling or purple blush when young, maturing to a more uniform green. Use Heuchera in the garden along the edges of paths or in the fronts of borders.