Tiarella cordifolia

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foam flower

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Other common names

coolwort, false mitrewort, white coolwort

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Herbaceous Perennial
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A stoloniferous herbaceous perennial to 30cm in height, with 3 to 5-lobed, broadly ovate leaves becoming bronze-tinged in autumn, and erect stems bearing open racemes of small, creamy-white flowers

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade
Aspect
North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Saxifragaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Tiarella are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials forming a clump of rounded, more or less palmately lobed leaves, with very small, star-shaped flowers in terminal panicles or racemes on erect stems
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Eastern N America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Ideally grow in cool, moist, humus-rich soil in partial or full shade but can tolerate a wide range of soils and can spread freely. Protect from excessive winter wet

Propagation

Propagate by seed in pots in a cold frame as soon as seed is ripe or in spring. Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Ground cover
  • Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

Remove spent flowers and leaves as required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free