Tiarella cordifolia, commonly called foamflower is a close cousin to coral bells, another popular shade garden plant. While the foliage of this woodland native may not be quite as showy as coral bells, foamflower compensates with a bounty of blossoms. In the spring, Tiarella cordifolia plants are loaded with spires of foamy white flowers—which give the trusty perennials their common name.
The blossoms—most commonly found in shades of pink and white—typically last anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. However, after the blooms fade, the dark green foliage makes an attractive backdrop for other plants. The leaves of foamflower plants are often lobed and deeply dissected (similar to a maple leaf), but you can find various other shapes and colors as well as some variegated cultivars.
Foamflower Overview
Where to Plant Foamflowers
Foamflower thrives in part to full shade and humus-rich soil that stays consistently moist, but not wet. It works beautifully when planted en masse along a border with other shade-loving plants and is lovely in woodland, ornamental, and wildflower gardens.
Among the numerous species of foamflower available, there are two types: clumping and trailing/spreading. The trailing type makes an exceptional groundcover plant that can be divided to spread among the garden. As these plants grow, they create long runners that put down roots wherever they touch the soil. This growth habit creates dense mats of foliage that also help prevent weeds.
How and When to Plant Foamflower
If you would like to grow foamflower from seed, plan to start them indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before the last frost so you will be ready to transplant your seedlings outside as soon as the danger of frost has passed.
To plant seedlings or nursery-grown foamflower plants, dig a hole that is slightly larger and with an equal depth to the plant’s root ball. If you plan to grow your foamflower in clumps or use it as a ground cover, place the plants approximately 12 to 18 inches apart.
Foamflower Care Tips
Foamflower is easy to cultivate, with several species native to the United States. While foamflowers can grow in full shade, the ideal habitat for the herbaceous perennial includes a little sun here and there. Such placement will encourage vibrant foliage and ample blooming.
Light
Foamflower plants love shade and partial shade but can tolerate a little morning sun. In fact, a touch of gentle, dappled sunlight will encourage your foamflower plants to grow lush, vibrant foliage and produce the best blooms.
Soil and Water
Foamflower plants can be easily grown in average, well-draining soil, but they prefer humus-rich soil with a pH of 6.2 to 6.5.
Established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, but for maximum performance, keep your foamflower in soil that stays consistently moist, but not wet. If the soil remains too wet, especially during winter periods, your foamflower plant is likely to rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Foamflower plants are hardy in zones 3 through 8, so they are somewhat tolerant of both high and low temperatures. They thrive best when the thermometer stays between 40- and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures outside that range may lead to stunted blooming, withered flowers, and brown, limp, or burnt foliage.
Foamflower plants are also fond of moist environments and can tolerate high humidity levels as long as the plants have ample air circulation, and the soil does not get soggy.
Fertilizer
Fertilizer is not required to help foamflower plants thrive—especially when they are grown in proper soil. However, to maintain a humus-rich environment, it is wise to incorporate some leaf mulch or compost into the soil each year in the late fall or early spring.
Pruning
Foamflower plants do not require much maintenance but fare best when you cut back dead leaves in the spring before new growth arrives and deadhead spent blooms after they wither. As a perennial, the plant will die back when temperatures drop. You can cut it back if you like, but the dead leaves can also provide extra protection to the plant’s crown through the coldest season.
Potting and Repotting
Foamflower plants can easily be grown in containers as long as they are given room to spread, moist (but not wet) soil, and protection from freezing temperatures. Choose a large (12- to 18-inch) container with excellent drainage and fill it with a well-draining potting mix before adding your plants. Keep the container in an area that gets partial shade or dappled morning sunlight and water frequently (especially in the summer) to keep the soil from drying out.
In the winter, bring your container-grown foamflower plants inside to an unheated garage or shed where they will be protected from harsh winter winds and freezing temperatures. You can bring them back outside after the danger of frost has passed.
If your plant grows too large for its container, wait until late fall, and then divide it into smaller clumps.
Pests and Problems
Foamflower plants are generally pest and disease-free if they are grown in partial shade and proper soil. Deer and rabbits also tend to ignore the easy-growing perennials unless the area is devoid of other food sources. Your plants may have occasional visits from slugs and snails, but you can remove and relocate them by hand.
That said, if your foamflower plants are left with wet feet or kept in poorly-draining soil, root rot can set in and kill the plant.
How to Propagate Foamflower
The easiest and most common way to propagate foamflower is through division, which should be done every few years to give the plant adequate air circulation, ample space for blooms, and to keep the foliage vibrant. To divide your foamflower plant, wait until late fall and gently dig up the roots to divide the plant into clumps. They are resilient and don’t need special treatment to be divided—just pull or cut them apart where it feels natural and plant the new clumps at least 12 to 18 inches from the original plant.
You can also propagate foamflower via seed, but it takes a little more patience and some cultivars may prove sterile. For the best results, use the freshest possible seeds and plant them in the ground right away. Sow the seeds shallowly in the soil in early spring or wait until autumn and sow them in a protected cold frame. If you plan to wait, clean them first and store them in a sealed, refrigerated container until it is time to plant them. Depending on your method, climate, and seed viability, germination can take anywhere from 2 to 12 weeks.
Types of Foamflower
Foamflower has seen new developments in recent years. One of the most important is their ability to cross-breed with coral bells. This created the new intergeneric hybrid heucherella, also known as foamy bells. New hybrids offer many of the beneficial traits from their parents, such as showy foliage and more prolific blooms. Among new foamflower hybrids are many varieties that can be used as container plants with showy foliage and trailing stems.
'Elizabeth Oliver' Foamflower
Tiarella 'Elizabeth Oliver' makes substantial low clumps of deeply lobed leaves streaked with red veining. Its spires of pink buds open blushing white. It grows 15 inches tall and is hardy in Zones 4-8.
'Heronswood Mist' Foamflower
Tiarella 'Heronswood Mist' bears white- and pink-specked foliage on 15-inch-tall plants. It is hardy in Zones 4-8.
Companion Plants for Foamflower
Phlox
Phlox are one of those bounteous summer flowers that can bring character and color to any large sunny flowerbed or border—and there are several to choose from. Garden and meadow phlox produce large panicles of fragrant flowers in a wide assortment of colors. They also add height, heft, and charm to a border. Low-growing wild Sweet William, moss pinks, and creeping phlox are effective as ground covers, at the front of the border, and as rock and wild garden plants, especially in light shade. These native gems have been hybridized extensively especially to toughen the foliage against mildew problems and many recent selections are now mildew-resistant. Like foamflower plants, phlox need amply moist soil for the best overall health.
Japanese Painted Fern
One of the most elegant ferns available for your garden, Japanese painted ferns are washed with gorgeous silver and burgundy markings. Lady fern is equally elegant though not quite as showy. Either will add interest and texture to your shady spots. Closely related to each other, Japanese painted fern and lady fern are sometimes crossed with each other to create attractive hybrids. Unlike most ferns, these toughies will tolerate dry soil. And they will tolerate some sun if they have ample water.
Solomon's Seal
This elegant shade plant has gently arching stems and dangling creamy bells. Solomon's seal adds height and grace to shaded gardens in spring. Like foamflower, it's an easy plant to grow, and will slowly colonize—even in tough areas where shallow tree roots rob moisture and nutrients. The foliage turns golden in fall.
Bluebells
To come across a stand of bluebells in bloom in the woods is a dream. Bluebells are among our most revered wildflowers, perhaps because their beauty is so fleeting. Arranged in clusters, the tubular clear-blue flowers that flare at the mouth open from pink buds. Lance-shape foliage emerges purplish-brown but becomes a medium green before going dormant after bloom time. Plan to fill bluebells' place in the border. It prefers moisture-retentive soil in sun or light shade, especially at midday, and pairs excellently with spring bulbs.
Garden Plans for Foamflower
Small Space Shade Garden Plan
You don’t need a lot of landscape to bring bright color to a shady spot in your yard. This plan is perfect for tucking under the canopy of a tree or for adding interest to a dull, shady nook. The design features shade-loving perennials like hostas, astilbe, and foamflowers as well as pretty bulbs like Autumn crocus and annuals like wax begonias.
Lush Woodland Garden Plan
If you are lucky enough to have a wooded area in your yard, you have the perfect place to put this colorful woodland garden plan. In it, you’ll find soft ferns, shade-loving blooms, and low-maintenance perennials (like foamflowers) that require little more than the occasional deadheading to maintain.
Backyard Garden Nook Plan
An Eastern redbud tree is the anchor for this garden oasis that is filled with flowers and fragrance. The tree also provides shelter for shade-loving plants like foamflowers, astilbes, and impatiens. Sunnier blooms like lavender, foxgloves, and penstemon round out the space and draw birds, bees, and other pollinators to the landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are foamflowers invasive?While foamflowers spread via underground runners, they are not considered invasive. Their root system is also shallow, so they are unlikely to crowd out other plants or be detrimental to the soil.
While foamflowers spread via underground runners, they are not considered invasive. Their root system is also shallow, so they are unlikely to crowd out other plants or be detrimental to the soil.
- Are foamflowers considered toxic?No. Foamflowers are not considered toxic to humans or pets, so they are safe to grow in areas where children, dogs, and cats play.
No. Foamflowers are not considered toxic to humans or pets, so they are safe to grow in areas where children, dogs, and cats play.
- Should I cut back my foamflower in the fall?When foamflowers die off and go dormant in the winter, you may be tempted to cut them back. Whether or not you should comes down to personal preference. Your foamflower plants can grow vibrantly and vigorously without being cut back and may actually benefit from the added winter insulation the dead leaves provide. But if you prefer a tidier look, go ahead and cut them back. It is unlikely to impede the return of your foamflowers in the spring.
When foamflowers die off and go dormant in the winter, you may be tempted to cut them back. Whether or not you should comes down to personal preference. Your foamflower plants can grow vibrantly and vigorously without being cut back and may actually benefit from the added winter insulation the dead leaves provide. But if you prefer a tidier look, go ahead and cut them back. It is unlikely to impede the return of your foamflowers in the spring.