Heuchera glabra aka Alpine Alumroot

Heuchera glabra is an evergreen perennial in the saxifrage family. Common names include alpine heuchera and smooth alum root. Its native range runs from the Aleutian Islands to Oregon. It also grows in Washington, British Columbia, and Alberta. This is a plant of temperate regions. Wild plants grow beside streams and in damp rock cracks. Their range reaches from the coast to above the tree line.

Plants reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres] tall. They keep their leaves throughout the year. The roots have woody parts beneath the leafy crown. Flowers appear in July and August. Each flower has both male and female organs. Bees pollinate them, and seeds ripen from August to September. This species can cross with other members of its genus. That matters when growing plants from saved seed.

Choose full sun or a site with some shade. A sunny woodland edge or dappled shade can suit it. Give it fertile soil that drains well but stays moist. Sandy and loamy soils both suit its needs. Avoid heavy soil, and do not let it dry in spring. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 4–8. It also describes the plant as frost hardy. Its evergreen growth makes it useful as woodland ground cover.

Grow new plants from seed or divide established plants. Sow seed in early spring under glass with gentle warmth. Cover the seed with only a thin soil layer. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Plant them outside in late spring or early summer. Outdoor sowing in mid-spring offers another route. Summer-sown plants can go into their final sites the next spring. The source favors division in August or early September. Set woody roots deep, with the leafy crown above soil.

The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Their low food rating reflects their limited appeal. The roots contain tannins and can help fix dyes. They can serve in place of alum for this use. Recorded folk uses include wound salves and remedies to reduce bleeding. These records do not establish safe or effective medical treatment. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That does not confirm safety for pets or every use. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases.