 Tiarella cordifolia |
Foamflower, (Tiarella cordifolia) was among the first wildflowers I recognized from wildflower guides while on hikes through our local woods. It was also one of the first shade plants to be brought into my garden. I truly enjoy this little plant, both in and out of flower. In my garden, it is a ground cover beneath deciduous azaleas and scampers between ferns with Jack in the pulpit poking up through the soft green mat of leaves. Foamflower does not necessarily have to be thought of as secondary to some other, larger, plant. It is quite lovely in its own right when used in mass.
New leaves have a glossy appearance to them, but softened by scattered, silky, hairs. The outside margins of each lobed leaf are toothed; think of a shape somewhat reminiscent of an oak leaf. The leaves stay close to the ground, tightly clustered, so that the soil is covered by a plant reaching no more than three to four inches in height. The plant spreads by runners scooting in and out of leaf mold and litter, setting new plants as it goes. I have not found the plant to be invasive after ten years, or more, in my garden.
Flowers are on a stem carried well above the foliage to about ten or twelve inches. The common name "foamflower" is truly appropriate. When a large patch is in bloom, the wind weaves through the stalks, and fuzzy white flowers undulate looking like foam on a cresting wave. Foamflowers are to the eyes what a Mozart symphony is to the ears.
 Closeup of Tiarella flower |
Tiarella cordifolia is found growing where there is open shade in moist, humus-rich soil. Its range is from Canada down through the Appalachian Mountains into Georgia and Alabama. I found my first patch along a small stream in sandy soil with lots of leaf mold and a mulch of leaf litter. I tried to duplicate that environment in my garden. I dug leaf mold into the soil along an embankment, working it into a loose consistency and keep all mulched with chopped leaves each fall.
 Tiarella wherryi |
The second eastern foamflower, T. wherryi is the next species most often found in catalogs and nurseries. The natural range begins about Virginia and Tennessee, extending to Georgia and Mississippi. Generally it is found in the same growing conditions as T. cordifolia, responding to the same environment in a garden.
There has been some debate over description of this species. Some list T. wherryi as T. cordifolia var. collina. To me, the major differences are that T. wherryi is a clump former, whereas T. cordifolia is stoloniferous and T. wherryi's bloom period is at the end of the T. cordifolia cycle.
If you have a small garden, or desire a slower growing plant, T. wherryi would be best of the two species. There are a few very nice cultivars of T. wherryi to watch for in catalogs, although they do not show up often. Both species are equally striking in bloom and worthy additions to any shaded garden.
The big buzz today is about all the hybrids and cultivars of foamflower continually coming into the gardening scene due to tissue culture. Some of the big names in selection and hybridizing today are Dan Heims, Don Jacobs, and Charles Oliver. The number of choices available today are almost overwhelming. So, how does one choose? What is the "best selection"? Some of the older, "classic" named selections are not quite as vigorous as they could have been in the garden. But, other than that, there is nothing wrong with the ones that have been around for a while in the catalogs. I have several that have been in my garden for years and I am content with their performance.
Names such as 'Brandywine', 'Dunvegan', 'Laird of Skye', 'Pink Bouquet', 'Running Tapestry' and 'Slick Rock' make appearances fairly frequently in current catalogs. There is room in my garden for only so many "New! Latest! Greatest!" Tiarella hybrids. But, Oh! the temptation, with names like 'Black Velvet', 'Dark Eyes', 'Jeepers Creepers', 'Mint Chocolate' and 'Neon Nights'. This year I limited myself to one new hybrid foamflower. After looking repeatedly at all the photos, reading descriptions over and over, I finally chose 'Iron Butterfly'. I believe if one could have only a single hybrid in their garden, this one would have to be that choice.
Simply the name 'Iron Butterfly' catches, and holds, ones attention. The flowers are fragrant, larger than normal, for a Tiarella, with a strong pink tint in the buds lending a two-toned effect to the froth. The foliage is heavily cut, larger in size, and very heavily patterned in burgundy-black velvet. During late fall and winter the leaves take on a background color of bronze-burgundy with the overlay of 'black' patterns. 'Iron Butterfly' also happens to be a vigorous performer in the garden.
A second line of breeding has been to cross coral bells (Heuchera) with foamflowers (Tiarella) to obtain Heucherella. You will generally find the larger, more colorful foliage of the coral bells, with the flowers of the foamflower, making a striking plant for the open shade garden. Heucherella is one magnificent plant for the garden that provides the best of both worlds in foliage and flower. Bloom periods can vary from the early spring timing of the foamflower to the summer blooms of the coral bells.
I am fond of any species or hybrid Tiarella plant in combination with large, upright, ferns such as the cinnamon, ostrich or Clayton's interrupted. The Christmas and New York ferns would be my second choice. If the more showy in leaf, hybrid foamflowers are being used, consider the Japanese painted fern as a more colorful contrast. The larger bellwort, Uvularia grandiflora, makes a good foliage companion with its blue-green 'wilted' appearance. Foamflowers and the larger trilliums, with their three simple large leaves, is a combination I enjoy. After the trilliums have gone dormant for the year, the foliage of the Tiarella will remain. Hosta with large leaves, or long narrow shapes, look good when the foliage and blooms of the foamflowers are allowed to scamper between the clumps. You may also want to consider other natives that bloom in April through May such as twinleaf, shooting stars, wood poppy, and Solomon's seal.
There is a tremendous amount of "new and exciting" in the world of the foamflower, so be sure and invite a few into your garden as permanent residents.