Native Plant Spotlight: Tiarella cordifolia

Tiarella, or foam flower, is a great addition to your deep shade to part shade areas. Once established it is a low maintenance plant and should be easy to grow for your average gardener. This is a good plant for areas where you need a ground cover and want to replace some invasive vinca or Enligh ivy. Tiarella prefers rich moist soil, as most plants that grow in woodsy shade do. I’ve seen this plant many times on hikes in the woods in the mountains of North Carolina and Georgia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The foliage is a lower growing ground cover while the flower stalks are usually around 8-10 inches tall. Plant these on an 18 inch center.

I like to plant 3-5 plants together minimum. These remind me of another plant I am fond of- heuchera. There are also mixes of Tiarella and Heuchera called Heucherella. Tiarella can be used in similar areas that heuchera is used- in pots, the front of a border, as a groundcover in shady moist areas. I sometimes put these plants in a sunnier area but only when they will get the water they need and its not blazing direct sun all day long.

It blooms spring into early summer. I would plant tiarella near dwarf oakleaf hydrangeas like Sykes dwarf, PJM rhododendron, Jack Frost Brunnera, variegated pieris and the chartreuse foliage of heuchera ‘citronella’ or ‘sweet kate’ tradescantia. There are some interesting horticultural varieties; Brandywine, Oakleaf and Elizabeth Oliver are some of my favorites.

Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’

We add some compost in the hole with every plant we plant but Tiarella is one that will definitely require the extra boost unless you have black gold for dirt in your garden! Happy planting.