Troubleshooting
Palace Purple coral bells problems — and how to fix them
Palace Purple coral bells (Heuchera 'Palace Purple') is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Crown rot
Wet winters or mulch piled against the crown cause rot. Plant slightly proud of soil level, use gritty compost, and keep crowns exposed to air. Lift and divide congested plants every 3 years.
Foliage bleaching / colour loss
Too much direct sun bleaches the deep purple to greenish-bronze. Relocate to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, or increase canopy shade. Colour also fades as plants age — division and replanting rejuvenates colour.
Vine weevil
Adult vine weevils notch leaf margins; larvae destroy roots. Most serious in containers. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer and inspect roots when repotting or dividing.
Prevent palace purple coral bells problems before they start
Most palace purple coral bells issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Looking for palace purple coral bells in general rather than its problems? Read the full palace purple coral bells care guide — light, water, soil and feeding.
Palace Purple coral bells problems — FAQ
Why is my palace purple coral bells crown rot?
Wet winters or mulch piled against the crown cause rot. Plant slightly proud of soil level, use gritty compost, and keep crowns exposed to air. Lift and divide congested plants every 3 years.
Why is my palace purple coral bells foliage bleaching / colour loss?
Too much direct sun bleaches the deep purple to greenish-bronze. Relocate to a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, or increase canopy shade. Colour also fades as plants age — division and replanting rejuvenates colour.
Why is my palace purple coral bells vine weevil?
Adult vine weevils notch leaf margins; larvae destroy roots. Most serious in containers. Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) in late summer and inspect roots when repotting or dividing.