Tiarella cordifolia

Foamflower is a small, delicate, native herbaceous perennial native to the Eastern Seaboard, including North Carolina. It is a member of the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). It is found naturally in moist forests, coves and well-drained bottomlands. The species epithet is compounded from Latin words meaning “heart-shaped leaf.”

Foamflower is best grown in shade, from dappled shade to full shade. It is not tolerant of drought conditions and needs moist, neutral or slightly acidic, humus-rich soils. Damaged foliage can be cut back at the beginning of the growing season and will be replaced with fresh, unblemished leaves. Propagation is by division or separating the plantlets produced on the ends of short stolons. Such plantlets should be allowed at least two growing seasons to establish their own root system before you separate them from the mother plant. Foamflower can be propagated by seeds, but plants are mostly self-incompatible. Two genetically distinct plants are needed to produce seeds. As most commercially available plants are propagated vegetatively (including by tissue culture), nursery stock is often a single genotype.

Foamflower is grown in gardens for its neat, interesting foliage and small spikes of creamy white flowers. The airy white flowers attract pollinators. It spreads by slender runners to form colonies. This species was selected as the 1986 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. Foamflower has been crossed with various species of alumroot (Heuchera spp.) to create the genus x Heucherella.

Use it in a mixed container, or in beds as an accent, border or an excellent ground cover for the heavy shade. It is well-suited for native, rock, fairy, shade, pollinator, winter, children’s or cottage gardens.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Black vine weevil is an occasional pest that can be very destructive.