Content Detail

This dainty perennial earns its name from the delicate clusters of white flowers that rise above the almost maple-like foliage. This is an excellent shade garden plant.

  • Family (English) Saxifrage
  • Family (botanic) Saxifragaceae
  • Tree or plant type Ground cover, Perennial
  • Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
  • Native locale North America
  • Size range Low-growing plant (under 6 inches), Small plant (6-12 inches)
  • Light exposure Partial sun / shade (4-6 hrs light daily), Full shade (4 hrs or less of light daily)
  • Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7, Zone 8
  • Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
  • Season of interest mid spring, late spring
  • Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, Pink, White
  • Shape or form Creeping, Mounded
  • Growth rate Moderate

Size and method of spreading:

This perennial is 6 to 12 inches high and wide. There are two naturally occurring forms of foamflower. One is a clump forming ground cover and the other can spread by stolons to some degree. Clump-forming ground covers are plants that are not usually thought of as ground covers. They are perennials that can be planted closely together to provide the visual effect of a ground cover.

Native geographic location and habitat:

Heart-leaved foamflower is found in rich woods in the eastern United States and into Canada. C-Value: 10

Leaf description:

This perennial has lobed leaves, maple-like in shape, forming a low growing rosette. The shape may vary by cultivar.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size description:

It has small white or pinkish flowers in clusters held on stalks above the leaves.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The fruit is a dry capsule and is not ornamentally important.

Plant care:

Heart-leaved foamflower requires a shady, moist site, but avoid planting it in wet soils.

List of pests and diseases:

There aren’t any serious issues, but slugs are a possible problem.

Brandywine foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’):

It has rugose, textured leaves with distinct red blotches in the center and bronze fall color. This cultivar can spread by short stolons.

Elizabeth Oliver foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia ‘Elizabeth Oliver’):

This cultivar has green leaves with maroon markings and light pink flowers.

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