Carried by 60 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Island alum root (Heuchera maxima) is a perennial flowering plant in the saxifrage family. In gardens it is valued as a groundcover for both its foliage and its flowers that hummingbirds love. The rounded green leaves grow in a broad patch and remain low. In winter to spring, tiny white-pink flowers bloom in frothy clusters towards the top of tall erect stems that rise above the leaves and may reach to about 2 feet.
This plant performs best in coastal gardens, where it can take full sun to part shade. In inland gardens, it may require full shade and additional water. It looks good in woodland gardens. It is adaptable to different types of soil but prefers sandy/rocky soil with good drainage.
In the wild, this plant is endemic to three of the eight Channel Islands of California, where it grows on cliffs and canyon walls. It is rare due to its limited distribution.
Perennial herb
1 - 2 ft Tall
2 ft Wide
Moderate
Evergreen
None
Pink, White
Spring, Winter
Containers, Groundcover, Lawn alternative
Full Sun, Partial Shade, Deep Shade
Low, Moderate
Max 3x / month once established
Easy
Tolerates cold to 12° F
Fast, Medium
Prefers sandy/rocky soil with good drainage.
Soil PH: 6.0 - 8.0
For propagating by seed: No treatment.
Chaparral or coastal sage scrub on rocky or sandy cliffs and sea bluffs of the northern Channel Islands
Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub
Use with other Channel Island species such as:
Trees: Island Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. asplenifolius), Island Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia ssp. lyonii), Island Oak (Quercus tomentella)
Shrubs and herbs: Island Ceanothus (Ceanothus arboreus), California Encelia (Encelia californica), St. Catherine's Lace (Eriogonum giganteum), Santa Rosa Island Sage (Salvia brandegeei), Manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), Dudleya spp., Yucca species