Description
Tiarella – Foamflower –
There are 5-7 rhizomatous herbaceous perennials in the Saxifrage family and resemble their relatives Heuchera, in this genus. They are found on the forest floor from woodland and stream banks in Eastern Asia and North America. The mainly basal, ovate to heart shaped or rounded, toothed, sometimes long stalked leaves are simple or palmately 3 to 5 lobed, occasionally 7 lobed, or palmate, they are pale to mid green, often turning shades of reddish copper in autumn and winter, and have conspicuous veins and sparse bristly hairs. The tiny, star shaped, airy, fluffy, white or pinkish white flowers, up to ½” across, are borne in terminal panicles or racemes over a long period from spring to summer. Grow as a groundcover in woodland garden or shady border. T. cordifolia spreads freely.
Grow ideally in cool, moist, humus rich soil, although they tolerate a wide range of soil conditions. Provide deep or partial shade. Protect from excessive winter moisture. Divide in early spring.
Prone to rust and slugs.
T. polyphylla -This clump forming, rhizomatous perennial from the Himalayas to China grows 12-24″ tall and 12-18″ wide. It spreads by stolons and produces 5 lobed, heart shaped, scalloped basal leaves, up to 2 ½” across, with mid green leaflets, and 2 or3 minutely stalked stem leaves. Bears terminal clusters , 10″ long, of several nodding, 5 petaled, white tinged, pink flowers in mid and late summer
Zones 5-8
