Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Height: Foliage—6 to 12 inches, bloom stalks to 2o inches
Bloom Time: April to May
Bloom Description: Dense white flower clusters on short stalks
Sun: Part shade to full shade
Attracts: Beneficial insects, specialist bees, woodland wildlife
Saxifrage Family
Native to Jefferson County
When Phish penned their song Foam, they could have been writing about the great flowering groundcover the Foamflower. “I’m looking through - And it would all be—So Crystal Clear– If it wasn’t for the foam- But the foam keeps getting thicker.”
Foamflower, also known as False Miterwort, is a low-growing spring wildflower of Eastern forests. In its natural setting, it is most often found in rich, moist woods. It has a preference for organic, slightly acidic soil that remains moist, however it does not tolerate flooding or extended wetness, especially in winter.
Foamflower is an excellent choice for shade gardens, both for its showy flower and its visually appealing foliage, which consists of semi-glossy, lobed leaves that sometimes exhibit reddish variegation along the veins. Leaves can be evergreen in mild winters and sometimes turning burgundy, bronze or reddish in autumn. The plant spreads by runners (stolons) although not aggressively. When planted in mass, foamflower makes a lovely low growing ground cover.
Foamflower’s dense flower stalks support specialist bees and attract beneficial insects. The low-growing, dense foliage is also habitat and cover for frogs, salamanders, turtles and other small woodland wildlife. ■
