Crevice Alumroot

The SLV supports a native Crevice Alumroot (Heuchera micrantha) that is not extraordinarily flashy; instead, they are charming, understated perennials that provide for native pollinators and contribute to the food web that is the backbone of nature’s ecosystems.

This native produces 2-3′ leafless spikes of small white to pinkish flowers that emerge from February to April. When planted in a group of three or more, the blossoms make a lovely collection that sways gracefully in the breeze. Heuchera micrantha will reseed when happy with its location. Its small flowers make it appear delicate, but it is a surprisingly hardy and drought-tolerant plant.

Crevice Alumroot does well in mixed evergreen forests, riparian corridors, and under California Oaks, as the mulch created from dropping leaves does not adversely affect it. It is a good companion plant in hummingbird gardens. It also tends to be deer-resistant.

It should be noted that Heuchera, which has been hybridized for color and resistance to native insects chewing its leaves, has little benefit to pollinators.