Plant Care Library

Other Names:  Sandia Mountain Alumroot, Mountain Coral Bells

Brand:  Plant Select

Description:

This tidy, miniature variety features spikes of nodding pink and white bells, rising in late spring from a compact, dense mound of cupped, ruffled green foliage; great versatility; keep soil moist in heat of summer; xeric when planted in shade

Ornamental Features

Sandia Coral Bells features showy spikes of shell pink bell-shaped flowers with white overtones rising above the foliage from late spring to early summer, which emerge from distinctive hot pink flower buds. Its attractive crinkled lobed leaves emerge light green in spring, turning green in color the rest of the year.

Landscape Attributes

Sandia Coral Bells is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. It is a good choice for attracting bees and hummingbirds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Sandia Coral Bells is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Sandia Coral Bells will grow to be only 6 inches tall at maturity extending to 12 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 14 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. However, you may want to keep it away from hot, dry locations that receive direct afternoon sun or which get reflected sunlight, such as against the south side of a white wall. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

Sandia Coral Bells is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.