There is a good chance the Hellebore will come back . I had a bear break off my Jade Tiger by stepping on it one summer and I thought it was gone but the next spring it came back up. I put some lime around the Hellebore each spring , I would think chalk would work but would not get too close. Lime should help with moss..

Thanks Bob! Now I can sleep. Those hellebore are $$.

SS one of the darker villosa Heuchera like Mocha might also be a good choice.

The heucherella didn't do too well for me last year. I'm really hoping it comes back for me this year, because the pictures I see of other people's heucheras/tiarellas are sooo pretty.

And that's a good point about water and tulip bulbs... I'll do some research and see what combination would be good!

Springcolor, I had just planted a hellebore last spring (just one; like you said, they're expensive!), and then promptly ran over it with a hose. The top broke off and I thought that was the end of that. But yesterday, I saw new leaves! It survived! So I have great hope for yours.

I love how plants are so forgiving.

Ssgardener, I think why [that] Bob suggested the darker color (please yell if I'm wrong, Bob #1!) is that there are different strains of Heuchera, and there is one - H. villosa - that does better in the heat/ humidity than others, being a native of the SE U.S.. It is also the parent of many of the new Heucheras and probably Heucherellas, you just have to watch which type you get.

Ohhhhh, I see!

(I think we need an emoticon with a light bulb overhead. )

It's so hard to tell what's going to be good/hardy in my area. I got Heucherella Stoplight because the pictures on line were so pretty. I thought it would be a bright, happy ground cover in my shade, but it looked half dead all last year.

Sheryl, I'll look for H. villosa varieties and try one out this year!

You are correct Sheryl . The darker color ones also do not burn up in the sun like the light colored ones tend to. SS if you see some you like just ask and I will check if it has villosa in it's background for you.

Don't have many heucheras because it is so hot and dry in this area (Dallas). I rarely put in anything that needs more than a trickle of supplemental water. Had a couple of Green Spice that did very well for five years, until this last summer. Going to look for more later when we are out of the drought and maybe put them into full shade. Obsidian didn't like it here at all, only lasted a year. If you like chartreuse or lime colors, Pistache is still kicking after three years, but it is mostly in shade.

Stoplight is a more difficult one to grow. Mocha is verry pretty have had that one for 2 years, a strong grower and larger than some.

'Appalachian Trail' and 'Jeepers Creepers' are both doing very well for me here. But that doesn't mean they will there in a higher zone.

Tee, such pretty cultivars! Appalachian Trial looks almost like a coleus.

I had steered away from the darker shades like Mocha, because purple/brown foliage tends to disappear into my dark red brick, particularly in the shade. Wish I'd known that Stoplight was more difficult to grow. There's so much to learn as a newbie.

The Tiarellas and Heucheras are doing well for me. So far.

A Mocha Heuchera with a couple of All Gold Japanese Forest Grass would look nice in a large container.

I just ordered "Pear Crisp" from a co-op, trying to provide some contrast to some of my darker colors. Bob, do you know the parentage of that? I will say "Silver Veil" has done fabulously here, although it's not quite as light green as I wanted. But it still looks like this to this day, even though this pic is over a month old.

Ugh, I'm sorry Tee - I'm guilty of TADD. That wasn't exactly a question/ answer.

Sheryl Pear Crisp is a mix of americania , micrantha & sanguinea. I tried Pear Crisp last year and as soon as the hot weather came it fried up make sure it does not get any afternoon sun. I think full shade would be best.

Thanks!

I have several dark colored Heuchera like Plum Pudding. They do really well. But the lighter fuzzy leafed like Caramel just die on me. Too bad as my husband really likes those colors.

My question: I bought a ton of columbine, the dwarf kind like the barlow's. They come back each year and have tons of flowers but the stems curl like a cork screw and the flowers are all gnarly and crunched up. I love the pictures but I dug up many last year and just gave up. Bad enough to fight the sawflies and the little buggers that leave white trails on those leaves that do survive. Blue and White Winky, Pink Barlow, Black Barlow, and several others a little taller just were a mess. Any idea about the curling of the stems and narly flowers. I know about the other two pests.