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Heuchera micrantha
  • Alum Root

a perennial evergreen member of the Heuchera genus in the family Saxifragaceae.

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Niche
  • Soil surface
    Soil surface
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Ground cover
    Ground cover
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 5
    Zone 5
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Heuchera micrantha has 0 edible uses listed
Heuchera micrantha has 0 material uses listed
Heuchera micrantha has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Edible uses

Notes

Young leaves - raw or cooked[1]. Not very palatable[2].

Leaves

Unknown use

Material uses

The root can be used as an alum substitute, this is a mordant used in fixing dyes[2]. The root is rich in tannin, is this the active ingredient that acts as a mordant?[2].

The plant can be crushed and then rubbed on the hair as a tonic to make it grow[3].

A good ground cover plant for the woodland garden[4]. Plants should be spaced about 45cm apart each way[5].

Unknown part

Hair care
Mordant

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is antiphlogistic, antiseptic, astringent, febrifuge and ophthalmic[1][2]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of liver complaints and sore throats[3]. A small piece of the cleaned and peeled root has been chewed to treat sore mouths and gums[3]. A poultice of the mashed root, combined with the pitch from Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) has been used to treat wounds[3]. The poultice was covered with a cloth and, when it was taken off, all the poison was extracted from the open wound[3]. The chewed leaves or roots have also been used on their own as a dressing on wounds[3].

Unknown part

Antiphlogistic
Antiseptic
Astringent
Febrifuge
Ophthalmic
Poultice

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Soil surface

Ecological Functions

Ground cover

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - sow early spring in a warm greenhouse and only just cover the seed. Germination is usually fairly rapid. Prick out the seedlings when they are large enough to handle and plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer.

The seed can also be sown in the middle of spring in an outdoor seedbed and planted out in early summer. Alternatively, you can sow the seed in an outdoor seedbed in the middle of summer for planting out in the following spring.

Division in March or October[6][7]. It is best to divide the plants in August or early September, making sure that the woody roots are planted quite deeply with only the crown of foliage above the ground[8].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Heuchera micrantha. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Succeeds in any good sweet garden soil that does not dry out in spring[6]. Prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade[6][7]. Prefers a well-drained fairly rich and not too heavy soil[7].

Plants are hardy to about -15°c[9].

Closely related to H. glabra[4], it is apt to hybridize with other members of this genus[7].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Heuchera micrantha. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Heuchera micrantha.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Heuchera micrantha
Genus
Heuchera
Family
Saxifragaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[1][2]
Medicinal uses
[1][2][3]
Material uses & Functions
[2][3][4][5]
Botanic
[10][4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Ground cover
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
5
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Soil surface
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    evergreen
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.7 x 0.4 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Bees
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

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    "image:Heuchera_micrantha_1583.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Heuchera_micrantha_1583.JPG|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

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    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.3 Sweet. M. Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West. Naturegraph Co. ISBN 0-911010-54-8 (1962-00-00)
    2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.6 Schofield. J. J. Discovering Wild Plants - Alaska, W. Canada and the Northwest. ()
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 (1998-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.1 Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons ISBN 0-460-12609-1 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.2 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.27.3 Sanders. T. W. Popular Hardy Perennials. Collingridge (1926-00-00)
    8. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
    9. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30936-9 (1991-00-00)
    10. ? Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press (1959-00-00)

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    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Heuchera_micrantha&oldid=77736"
    Facts about "Heuchera micrantha"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familySaxifragaceae +
    Belongs to genusHeuchera +
    Functions asGround cover +
    Has binomial nameHeuchera micrantha +
    Has common nameAlum Root +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeBees +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone5 +
    Has imageHeuchera micrantha 1583.JPG +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useHair care + and Mordant +
    Has mature height0.7 +
    Has mature width0.4 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAntiphlogistic +, Antiseptic +, Astringent +, Febrifuge +, Ophthalmic + and Poultice +
    Has primary imageHeuchera_micrantha_1583.JPG +
    Has search nameheuchera micrantha + and alum root +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy + and Loamy +
    Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy nameHeuchera micrantha +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheSoil surface +
    Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF material use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedNo +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedNo +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha +, Heuchera micrantha + and Heuchera micrantha +