Alum root

Heuchera americana L.

Family: Saxifragaceae (saxifrage)

Alum root

Dan Gibson, MSU Entomology

Prairie alum root

  • Bloom Period:
    • Early,
  • Growth Cycle:
    • Perennial,
  • Growth Habit:
    • Forbs/Herbs,
  • Insect Type Attracted:
    • Natural Enemy,
    • Pollinator,
  • Light:
    • Full,
    • Partial,
    • Shade
  • Soil Moisture:
    • Medium,
  • Height:
    • 3ft

Natural enemies attracted

Mildly attractive: Chalcidoidea.

Pollinators attracted

Mildly attractive: sweat bees.

Pests attracted

Mildly attractive: aphid, thrips and lygus bugs.

Plant notes

Small, inconspicuous green flowers bloom along flowering stalks up to 3 ft tall. Dark-green leaves grow from the plant base to less than 1 ft tall. Plants filled in the study area in their third year of growth, and bloomed throughout June. This species was one of the least attractive to natural enemies in the early season, with less than half as many natural enemies as in the grass control.

Habitat

Alum root can grow in mostly sun to mostly shade, and mid-range soil moisture (neither very wet nor very dry). It naturally occurs in deciduous woods and is often found on dry or damp banks or ravines.

Cultivation and management

This plant can be grown from seed (flowers in third year) or plug material (flowers in second year). This species is low growing and may be used as a groundcover.