Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia. Family Saxifragaceae. Perennial.
Also called Heartleaf foamflower.
Foamflower is a low-growing woodland perennial native to eastern North America, grown for its heart-shaped leaves and airy spikes of white spring flowers. It spreads by runners to make a soft groundcover in moist shade, especially beneath deciduous trees and shrubs.
At a glance
- Sun
- Partial to full shade; gentle morning sun is suitable where the soil stays moist. Avoid hot afternoon sun.
- Water
- Keep evenly moist, particularly during establishment and summer heat, but avoid waterlogged soil.
- Soil
- Humus-rich, well-drained soil, preferably slightly acidic to neutral. Improve poor soil with leaf mould or compost.
- Height
- 0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m) in leaf; up to 1.5 ft (0.45 m) in flower
- Spread
- 1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), gradually spreading farther by runners
- Flowers
- Spring to early summer; small white flowers, sometimes opening from pale pink buds, in upright, frothy spikes
- Foliage
- Heart-shaped, shallowly lobed green leaves, sometimes with darker markings along the veins; foliage may turn bronze or reddish in cold weather. Semi-evergreen in mild climates and often dormant in cold winters.
- Growth
- Moderate; faster in moist, humus-rich soil
- Care needed
- Low
Care
- Water newly planted foamflowers whenever the soil surface starts to dry.
- During prolonged dry spells, water deeply rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.
- Apply a thin layer of leaf mould or compost in spring, keeping it clear of the crowns.
- Avoid heavy feeding; rich soil and an annual organic mulch are usually sufficient.
- Divide congested patches in spring or early autumn, and lift unwanted rooted runners to control spread.
Pruning. In early spring, snip off dead or winter-damaged leaves without cutting into the crown. Remove spent flower stems at their base if you want a tidier appearance.
Through the year
- Early spring
- Remove damaged foliage and check that mulch has not buried the crowns.
- Spring
- Plant or divide clumps, water thoroughly, and mulch lightly with leaf mould.
- Late spring
- Remove faded flower stems if desired, or leave them for seed.
- Summer
- Check soil moisture during dry weather, especially beneath thirsty tree roots.
- Early autumn
- Transplant rooted runners or divide established patches while the soil is still warm and moist.
- Late autumn
- Leave healthy foliage in place and remove thick mats of fallen leaves that could smother the crowns.
In the garden
- Plant in drifts beneath deciduous trees for spring flowers and a leafy summer groundcover.
- Edge shaded paths with foamflower, allowing its runners to soften the path margins.
- Combine with ferns and hostas for contrasting leaf shapes in a woodland border.
- Mix with spring bulbs so the developing leaves help conceal fading bulb foliage.
Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Wildlife garden and Cottage garden.
Plant it with: Hostas, Lady fern, Solomon's seal, Wild ginger, Virginia bluebells and Siberian bugloss.
Wildlife: Spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for small bees and other insects. Dense patches offer shelter for small ground-dwelling invertebrates.
Problems to watch for
- Slugs and snails can chew young leaves; hand-pick after dark and use wildlife-conscious slug controls where necessary.
- Brown, scorched leaf edges usually indicate dry soil or excessive sun; water deeply and provide more shade.
- Crown or root rot can develop in saturated soil; improve drainage and keep soil and mulch away from the crown.
- Powdery mildew may affect crowded plants; improve airflow, water at soil level, and remove badly affected leaves.
Safety
Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people. No part is recognised as poisonous, but it is not a food plant and should not be eaten.
Easily confused with
American alumroot (Heuchera americana)
Its rounded, lobed leaves can look similar, but it forms a clump rather than a running mat and usually carries small greenish or cream flowers on much taller, branched stems.
Two-leaved miterwort (Mitella diphylla)
It has similar basal leaves, but its flower stems usually carry a pair of opposite leaves, and each tiny flower has distinctly fringed petals.
The name
Tiarella means 'little tiara', referring to the shape of the seed capsule, while cordifolia means 'heart-leaved' and foamflower describes the frothy flower spikes.
Propagation. Divide clumps or detach rooted runners in spring or early autumn. Species plants can also be raised from seed; winter chilling may help germination, and seedlings from named cultivars may differ from the parent.
Checked against open data
- Accepted botanical name
- Tiarella cordifolia
- In the US and Canada
- Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.
- Native range
- Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
- Measured
- Average height 12 cm.
Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.
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