Amber Waves

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Author Message   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 04:05 am EST :    I understand this a a controversial heuchera. Well, I love it - and it came through the winter beautifully, in spite of its reputation for being difficult. Anyway I assume it is Amber Waves - it had no label Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Goswimmin  My Weather Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 07:06 pm EST :    That is just a beauty!! I love it. It sure looks like Amber waves to me. I lost one a few years ago but it was very small. Maybe I will try again with a bigger one now that I have seen yours. Mary Goswimmin - Georgia, Zone "7b"   Euphorbphreak  My Weather My Time Posted on Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 11:46 pm EST :    I'm in the "like Amber Waves" camp. The foliage is particularly striking in spring, though it looks a bit worn by late fall (but then many things do). There's so many ways to use this plant! David, the other CA, 10/17   Susanq  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Wednesday, May 18, 2005 - 12:22 am EST :    Mine is a no-show :( I'm happy for you, Mara - it is so pretty - and ready to flower soon. SusanQ - Zone 4b-5b Wisconsin   Kniphofia  My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 09:37 am EST :    I love this one too, but my small plant from a couple of years ago didn't make it. Like Mary I may try again with a bigger plant. Kniphofia - Maine, Zone "4"   Shirley1md  Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 09:35 pm EST :    What a strikingly beautiful Heuchera! Hope it continues to do well for you! Shirley Maryland Zone 7a   Hostathumb  Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 09:36 am EST :    I love this one. Mine are two years old, but I didn't know they were "controversial". Can someone explain. Hostathumb - Massachusetts, Zone "4b"   Cinta  My Weather Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 01:47 am EST :    I brought this one. Is it really this hard to keep alive? The one I brought wis a pretty good size. Those that have had it awhile what conditions are you growing..such as full sun, some sun, shade, moist, dry???? Cinta - Pennsylvania, Zone "Zone 6"   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Sunday, October 23, 2005 - 04:14 am EST :    Mine is proving to be one of the strongest heucheras - so far at least, but this will only be its second winter. It has approx. 5 hours of full sun and normal garden soil which contains a lot of compost and is fairly water-retentive. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Grahame_m  Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 - 11:35 pm EST :    Hi Y'All: This is my first posting on this section. I think that the vigor of AW has long been a question mark as has its winter hardiness. Most heucheraphiles coinsider "Marmalade" a more vigorous and hardy cultivar. Even Heims, the breeder. Cheers, Grahame Ware, co-author "Heucheras and Heucherellas" (along with whatshisname!) Grahame_m - British Columbia, Zone "Zone 6"   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2005 - 03:16 am EST :    Grahame, as I wrote, mine had no label when I bought it. I just assumed it was Amber Waves because Marmalade is less common. It flowered well, on not very tall stalks. As far as I remember, the flowers themselves were small and vaguely white in colour - not very showy. It even produced some flowers in late summer. Growth is quite strong. Can you tell by the photo and description which of the two it is? Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Grahame_m  Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 07:07 pm EST :    Gardenfiend: (Got your name right this time- sorry!). It definitely appears to be a happy 'Amber Waves'. The green at the mid ribs shows that. Vigor is not something one generally equates with 'Amber waves'. Many think that 'Marmalade has more vigor. This has been my experience as well. But who can make absolute judgments in the plant world? Obviously you are doing something right and it is loving being with you in your garden. Congratulations. Grahame Grahame_m - British Columbia, Zone "Zone 6"   Cinta  My Weather Posted on Friday, November 18, 2005 - 11:01 pm EST :    Gardenfiend, I see you have some rocks around the plant. I have done that with some of my marginal plants. The rocks helps with the freeze and thaw which is what will kill many plants in my zone. So tomorrow I will also place some rocks around it to give it a little extra protection. Cinta - Pennsylvania, Zone "Zone 6"   Gardenbug  Posted on Saturday, November 19, 2005 - 07:57 am EST :    I have observed Amber Waves in several locations. At my place it grows in a rather sunny moist place best. It also grows in a shadier spot where it tends to show more green. Two people who really liked it said that it vanished over the winter. I also have Marmalade which I bought when it was quite small. It remains small a year later- in a shady spot. Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"   Woodthrush  Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 09:16 am EST :    I had four Amber Waves that did not survive last winter. I bought one more this year so we'll see if it lives through this winter. I don't think the "Dessert" series is hardy for zone 4 either. I'll know in the spring. Pam in NE PA Woodthrush - Pennsylvania, Zone "zone 4"   Monique  My Favorite Photo My Garden Journal My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 09:18 am EST :    I just found this thread..I had better go protect mine:) I love their foliage! Monique Quebec Zone 5   Gardenbug  Posted on Sunday, December 11, 2005 - 10:09 am EST :    Mine are not protected in any way except by snow, so perhaps the "MOIST" fairly well drained part is what helps. Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"   Deeds  Posted on Friday, May 12, 2006 - 05:16 pm EST :    Could it be 'Creme Brulee'?. I had Amber Waves and it was a really poor plant. Where I live winters are very mild, (virtually frost-free), and it survived but never thrived. Creme Brulee is almost identical but much more robust. Deeds - Cornwall, Zone "9"   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Saturday, May 13, 2006 - 01:55 am EST :    I don't know. I also had Creme Brulee and it deteriorated and died within months of being planted. This one has survived this past hard winter with some damage but is again growing strongly. Grahame seems to have identified it as Amber Waves... Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"   Jgwoodard  My Garden Posted on Wednesday, May 24, 2006 - 02:07 am EST :    Are Heucheras generally long-lived? After a couple of good years they almost always decline in my garden. I suppose occasional water and/or mulch would help. :-) I'm sure my garden is too dry and well-drained for them to be very happy. They usually live but never get as big as their second year in the ground usually. Jgwoodard - Seoul, Zone "7"   Muddy_boots  My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Thursday, August 03, 2006 - 07:52 pm EST :    The heuchera show is most likely Amber Waves a sport of Whirlwind, Whirlwind is a cross of H.micrantha and H.sanguinea. Two heucheras from very different climates, micrantha likes a bit more moisture where sanguinea likes lots of drainage. So water often is what I get from that, but allow for good drainage as well. Crème Brûlée is an excellent heuchera that can really take the sun and heat, and still provide excellent color. Amber Waves would burn if left in full sun past 12 PM in VA anyways. Knowing the parentage will help you understand what to expect from your heucheras. Muddy_boots - Virginia , Zone "Freeze Zone 7a Heat Zone 7"   Gardenfiend  My Weather Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 - 02:44 am EST :    Update. Amber Waves did not do well this year and I finally, mercilessly dug it out and sent it to the compost pile. Keylime Pie is growing nearby and is much stronger. Gardenfiend - Germany, Zone "7a"