My heucheras aren't looking so good!
- Posted on
- By Jonn 'J-Dogg' Karsseboom
- 8

I highly recommend Heucheras of all kinds for all kinds of garden projects. Heucheras in your containers. Heucheras in your hanging baskets. Heucheras in your landscape. There may come a time however, when your Heucheras might not be looking so well.
In my experience it is due to the strawberry root weevil when the heuchera’s tops come off. The root weevil grubs eat all the roots, if you catch them early enough you can see the tiny white grubs. They love azaleas and rhododendrons too. I give all my heucheras systemic to avoid this.
I love the Heuchera and was so disappointed to see that the local deer love them as well.
Hi Lori! There are varieties that tend to do better in the sun and they generally run in the deep burgundy to red colors. Those black spots on the leaves happen to almost any variety when the conditions are right. (Warm and wet as well as cold and wet with stagnant air) You may spray for leaf spot though I have found it’s sometimes easier to just prune off ugly leaves and grow new ones.
Hi Susan! I can relate completely. There is a saying, not sure how it goes exactly but I believe it began in a frustrated garden. Its something about try, try again. (Garden On!)`
Hi Dan! I’m honored! You brought up an excellent point! Thank you! Keep up the marvelous work you do for all of us gardeners quite literally around the world!
This was very useful information. I wish I'd had it sooner and most of mine have died.
Thanks Jonn, very informative. I absolutely love heucheras. Are there some colors that do better in sun than others? Also why do my bright green/yellow colored ones always get little brown spots on them?
Heucheras are my favorite, too! Especially in a mixed hanging basket. Thanks, Jonn, for the tips.
As the daddy of many Heuchera varieties, I wanted to compliment you on your comments and advice with one caveat; the Heuchera whose top came off was attacked by root weevils. The crown should be inspected for the “C” shaped grubs before replanting and the original soil should be dumped in the garbage and not the compost. Carry on, John!
Thanks for the information. I must get outside and tend to my Heucheras.