My 'Palace purple' that are in part shade are the same color as yours. I'm disappointed too, but they are very hardy plants, and self sow readily so I tolerate the color. I compensate by buying other varieties that are deeper in color, e.g. 'Cathedral Bells'. You might try moving them to a sunnier spot-- I don't have much sun and what I have goes to peonies, irises, etc., so the 'Palace purple' will stay where they are.

Mine gets morning sun and is a bronze color too.

Whoops, I checked the plant marker and the darker purple Heuchera I have is called 'Cathedral Windows'. It does keep its purple color year after year. Another one called 'Can Can' is tending to go the more bronzy color of 'Palace Purple'

Thanks for the input. I'm thinking about moving the PPs and replacing them in the shady area with Cathedral Windows.

I also saw 'Velvet Knight' which looks terrific in pictures... but don't know how that appearance would hold up in the shade.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Velvet Knight' heuchera at PDN

Plum Puddng is a beauty but needs more sun then Palace Purple so they are probably not interchangeable......which is what I want to do!

My palace purple was an awful chocolatey color when I brought it home, but I put it under a tree where it apparently gets more sun than it did in the nursery, and it's becoming more of a purpley bronze; still not what I'd call purple, but the maroon shade is growing on me. Especially since it bloomed recently.

I was reading in another thread that there's a difference between Palace Purple that's been grown from seed and Palace Purple that's been grown from a tissue culture. The seed-grown ones aren't nearly as purple, apparently. Wish I could remember what forum that was in.

How big is Palace Purple supposed to get? I put it next to a hosta which got a lot bigger this year than it did last year, and now I'm afraid I'll have to move one or the other.

TR

Someone from PDN agrees with the seed-grown issue. They said:

"While very low light will interfere with anthocyanin pigment production, I'll bet that most of the problem is that Heuchera 'Palace Purple' is a seed strain. Most of what is sold in the US are inferior colored seedlings that never have good color. Any of the new tissue cultured hybrids have held there color very well in our trials."

TaraRose, I think PP's max out at about a 2 foot clump.

I divided mine last week. Odd time I know but it was calling out to me. As soo many do. It seems to be surviving....Still not thrilled with the color but it is not green so I must be happy.