Tiarellas, commonly called foamflowers, are popular perennials for shade gardens. . There are about six species five of which are native to North America and one to Asia. The plants produce short spikes of small white to pink flowers above a low growing mound of handsome foliage. The evergreen leaves may be almost round or have three to nine lobes that may be rounded or angled, and slightly to deeply cut. In summer the leaves are green often with maroon to purple markings along the veins and in winter they turn shades of bronze. Plants may be clump forming or spreading.
Breeders have produced many different cultivars that vary primarily in leaf shape and leaf markings but also show differences in flower color, hardiness, and heat-humidty tolerance. Here are some of the best.
‘Iron Butterfly”
The leaves of this Tiarella are so deeply cut they appear to be separate leaflets and each leaflet is marked with dark maroon.
Flower color: Light pink
Habit: Loose clump
Size: 8” h x 12”W
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
‘Jeepers Creepers’
The fuzzy green leaves have rounded lobes and distinctive wide black markings.
Flower Color: White
Habit: Spreading
Size: 8-12” H x 18-36” W
Hardiness: Zones 3-9
‘Mystic Mist’
The maple-leaf shaped leaves are frosted with white and accented by maroon markings along the veins.
Flower Color: White
Habit: Clumping
Size: 5’ x 12” W
Hardiness: Zones 4-8
‘Spring Symphony’
Deeply cut leaves have black star pattern in the center. Known for its abundance of white flowers that open from pink buds.
Flower Color: Pink fading to white
Habit: Clump forming
Size: 8-10” H x 10-12” W
Hardiness: Zones 4-9
‘Tiger Stripe’
Tolerant of heat and humidity, this Tiarella has maple-leaf like leaves striped and mottled with purple.
Flower Color:<e/m>Light pink
Habit: Clump forming
Size: 8-14” H x 10-12´W
Hardiness: Zones 4-9