The roughly 50 species of Heuchera are native to North America, with a particular concentration in the western states, though the genus extends into North Carolina and even the Russian Far East. They are members of the saxifrage family, low-growing perennial groundcovers that persist through the year in mild climates and come in foliage colors ranging from deep purple to orange to near-black. The genus was named for Johann Heinrich von Heucher, an Austrian-born botanist and physician who worked in 17th-century Germany — an appropriately scholarly patron for a plant so often found in well-tended woodland gardens.

Heucheras are primarily foliage plants, though many western species produce attractive pink or red flowers that draw hummingbirds and butterflies from June onward. They prefer slightly acidic, organically enriched, well-drained soil and are best divided every three to four years to maintain vigor. Deadheading spent flower spikes extends the bloom period, and cutting back ragged foliage in mid-season encourages a fresh flush of leaves. Heavy clay and waterlogged conditions are the chief causes of failure; most everything else is forgiving. They integrate beautifully into shaded borders, container plantings, and cottage gardens alike.