Heuchera maxima, Island Alum Root
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Island Alum Root is a rhizomatous perennial herb that forms a broad patch about 1 to 2 ft. high and wide. It has large, rounded, multi-lobed green leaves with long leaf stalks and a fringe of hairs along the edges. Its erect flower stems can be almost 2 feet tall, lined with many little white flowers, although sometimes the blooms are pink. In general, Heuchera maxima tends to have white or light pink flowers, and Heuchera micrantha has deeper pink flowers.
It performs best in coastal gardens, where it can take full sun to part shade. In inland gardens, it may require full shade and additional water. It looks good in woodland gardens, especially when planted in large clumps as an understory for open canopy trees. Deer will definitely browse it.
Island Alum Root is endemic to three of the eight Channel Islands of California, where it grows on cliffs. It is rare in the wild, due to its limited distribution. It is also cultivated as an attractive garden plant, valued as a groundcover for both its foliage and its flowers.