I Tried Tons of Plants in My NYC Backyard and Only These Survive Season After Season

Back when I moved into my apartment in 2020, I was faced with a dilemma: we had a large deck to fill (a total win for NYC!) and needed to plant things that would survive the colder months in the city so they would be larger and more mature once spring rolled around. We made our way to a nursery and I, somewhat impulsively, bought a few small coral bell plants in a deep purple to fill a large elevated planter that my boyfriend built.

When I planted the coral bells in the spring of 2021, they were still small and barely peeked up over the top of the planter. They steadily grew throughout the summer and fall months, then seemed to go dormant during the winter. By that I mean they went limp and looked kind of flat—I was hopeful but considered that maybe they died or were in rough shape because the cold temps were too much for them. But come spring, they sprang up and were full and lush, having almost fully taken over the large planter.

Year after year, they continue to grow, and I’m so glad I impulsively decided to buy these low-maintenance plants! To get more info on coral bells, I spoke to Ryan McEnaney, marketing and communications manager at Bailey Nurseries.

What Are Coral Bells?

“Most coral bells species that you find in garden centers today are species or hybrids that are derived from species native to North America, which helps them adapt to our climate and remain low maintenance,” says McEnaney. “Native species and native selections have adapted over thousands of years to the North American landscape, so they are quite literally built to survive and thrive in our gardens,” he explains. “Coral bells are also incredibly adaptable, especially in shady environments, so they can still thrive in spaces where many other plants wouldn’t.”

What Are the Different Types of Coral Bells?

The coral bells I have are a deep purple, but this year I also added a few of a variety called “Sweet Tea” that are a gorgeous coral-y green. There are so many pretty, colorful varieties to choose from! “What I especially love about coral bells is that they come in such a mix of colors, so they can add a lot of variation and texture to those shady sites,” McEnaney explains. “Whether you want something dark and moody to amplify the shady space or a bright chartreuse to brighten it up, you can find a coral bells variety that will work.”

He says that some of the classics include the aptly named varieties Caramel, Plum Pudding, and Purple Palace. “I also love some of the new breeding like Northern Exposure Black for the deep purple-black leaves, Fire Chief for its vibrant red foliage accented by pink-white flowers, Peppermint Spice with its silver-green foliage and purple veins, and Lime Rickey for its bright lime green leaves that brighten up the shade.”

How to Care for Coral Bells

While coral bells are low maintenance, McEnaney says they still need a little love now and then!

Watering

“You’ll want to keep the soil consistently moist, especially if they’re in a partly sunny location,” he says. “While they can tolerate some drought once they’re established, they do best with consistently moist, but not wet, soil.”

Planting

“Most coral bells can be planted across much of North America from USDA Zones 4 through 9, but in colder climates, they can sometimes heave out of the ground in the winter. This happens because they have a shallow root system that can sometimes push up as the ground freezes for the winter and then thaws again in spring,” he explains. He says that the best way to prevent this is to ensure you’ve got a good mound of mulch on the drip line going into winter. “Other than that, coral bells are pretty easy plants that add a lot to the garden without much work!”