There is another version called Purple Palace Select, supposed to have improved vigor and color.
If you're just starting out with Heuchera, this is a great choice for your first plant. Very nice color, sun or shade. Strong grower with a nice full form. Handles heat and humidity well.
Aside from the attractive foliage, both in terms of color gradations and patterns, another interesting aspect of Heucheras is the actual overall appearance of the plant in different seasons. Just as the chameleon will change color based on background, so too the Heuchera will change (often much more than just color) based on the season.
Early in the spring Obsidian tends to be more pink, turns a darker shade of green/purple as the season goes on.
In zone 4 Wisconsin tends to get a darker pink as the summer goes on, but still remains a very attractive plant. The pink spots on the leaves are very unusual and eye catching.
I find the blooms on this heuchera to be almost invisible, kind of a tannish white and really tiny. I just snip off the flower stalks as they emerge and end up with a fuller foliage plant.
It really is as pink as it looks in the pictures. The leaves are huge and stayed completely evergreen for me over a mild zone 7 winter. I can't even remember if it bloomed for me last year, but it's the leaves that are the star anyway. Doesn't seem at all bothered by slugs.
This cultivar has been a consistent performer in my zone 5 garden. Beautiful, bright yellow-green foliage color all season long. I find it is best sited in part shade with protection from afternoon sun.
Snow Angel is my favorite Heuchera. Its abundant coral pink flowers contrast perfectly with the foliage and given its decent size, puts on quite a show for around 4 weeks. It's also one of the most vigorous Heuchera I have, increasing well and tolerating full sun, at least southern New England full sun.
Frosted Violet has interesting fuzzy stems. I've grown it on the N/W corner of my house where it got full afternoon sun, and was subjected to (rich, but) hot, dry soil. Last year I moved it to full shade in rich/humusy soil and it has done just as well. Quite dark, but interesting in combination with other, lighter leaved heucheras. Performs well in zn. 5. Worth having in the garden.
