Mendocino Alumroot
Heuchera pilosissima
Care
part shade
very low
Fast
0–1ft tall
Resistant
Friendly
Prized
Coastal bluffs and scrub of Mendocino County, below 500 ft elevation
Care Guide
Planting
Plant your Mendocino Alumroot in partial shade with fast-draining soil - it's a coastal bluff native that won't tolerate wet feet. Space it 12–18 inches apart if planting multiple plants or using it as a groundcover. Fall through early spring is the ideal planting window in the Bay Area. This tough, deer-resistant plant handles poor, rocky soil just fine, so don't feel obligated to amend heavily.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer to establish the root system, then taper off - mature plants need very little water and prefer dry conditions. Once established (by year two), rely on rainfall in winter and skip summer watering entirely unless you're in an exceptionally hot, dry pocket. The #1 mistake is overwatering: this plant evolved on windswept coastal bluffs, not in moist gardens, so err on the side of drought. Deadhead spent flowers if you want to tidy up, but no heavy pruning is needed.
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Wildlife Supported
Insects
spring nesting season pollen source April-May for brood provisioning
early spring pollen forager; critical for nest provisioning March-April
early spring pollen source for native bee populations in Mendocino County
larval host plant; caterpillars feed on foliage in spring months
spring pollen forager; parasitic bee relying on other native bees also using this plant
adult nectar feeding during active foraging period
adult nectar feeding July-August during hunting season
adult nectar source during nesting season June-August
+2 more species