Foamflower Tiarella cordifolia
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Tiarella wherryi
- Phonetic Spelling
- tee-ah-REL-lah kor-dih-FOH-lee-ah
- Description
-
Foamflower is a small, delicate native herbaceous perennial flower grown in gardens for its neat, interesting foliage and small spikes of creamy white flowers.
Despite its slow growth rate, Foamflower can be used as a groundcover as it spreads by underground rhizomes. A similar hybrid, Wherry's foamflower, forms clumps and does not spread by rhizomes.
An excellent ground cover for the heavy shade, and the airy white flowers attract pollinators. It spreads by slender runners to form colonies. It is not tolerant to drought conditions. It is found naturally in moist forests, coves, and well-drained bottomlands.
This plant 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.
Seasons of Interest:
Leaves: Spring/Summer/Fall; Blooms: Early Spring; Fruit/Seed/Nut: Spring
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Hydrangeas in the Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cutting Edge'
Deeply dissected leaves with burgundy centers - 'Running Tapestry'
Leaves turn bronzy red and persist throughout the winter - Tiarella cordifolia var. collina
- 'Cutting Edge'
- 'Cutting Edge', 'Running Tapestry', Tiarella cordifolia var. collina
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cutting Edge'
Deeply dissected leaves with burgundy centers - 'Running Tapestry'
Leaves turn bronzy red and persist throughout the winter - Tiarella cordifolia var. collina
- 'Cutting Edge'
- 'Cutting Edge', 'Running Tapestry', Tiarella cordifolia var. collina
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Tiarella
- Species:
- cordifolia
- Family:
- Saxifragaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Nova Scotia, Appalachian Mountains to Alabama West to Minnesota
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Moderately deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 5 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available May-June
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Narrow cluster of dainty small white-to-pink flowers on the upper portion of a leafless stalk floating above the leaves; five small petals that taper into stalked bases. Blooms in early spring (April-June)
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- 2" to 4" broad, long-stalked leaves; roundish to egg-shaped with heart-shaped base; three to seven shallow, sharply toothed lobes. Leaves are basal and resemble maple leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Shade Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Moths
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Heavy Shade
