Tiarella

( tye - ar - RELL - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Tiarella, commonly called Foamflower or Sugar-Scoop, needs partial to full shade and regular water for best performance. They form clumps 1.5 feet tall and a little wider, and spread by rhizomes or above-ground runners. They are evergreen, though foliage changes color in fall. Flower stems carry small white or pink flowers. Foamflower is useful in shade gardens, and they also make delicate groundcovers in areas that do not get any foot traffic. 

Tiarella Species and Varietals

The genus Tiarella is a member of the plant family Saxifragaceae and includes 7 species. Foamflower growing zones vary depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Tiarella austrina (Southern Foamflower)
These plants are native to the southeastern United States, and spreads via underground stolons. Leaves are green, and large at the base of the plant, smaller as they go up flowering stems. 

Tiarella cordifolia (Heart-Leaved Foamflower, Allegheny Foamflower, False Miterwort, Coolwort)
This species grows in zones A3, 1-9 and 14-24 and is native to eastern North America. Leaves are light green and turn red and yellow in fall. Flowers are cream colored and bloom on foot-high flower stems. Varieties include 'Oak Leaf' (with deeply lobed leaves and pink flowers) and 'Running Tapestry' (with deeply lobed leaves and dark purple to maroon veining).
Tiarella Selections and Hybrids
This group of Tiarella grows best in zones 1-9 and 14-21; they are described below.
'Cygnet'
Leaves are star-shaped with purple markings and flowers are white, opening from pink buds. 
'Mint Chocolate'
Leaves have deep lobes and are blushed with a deep brown-purple. Flowers are pink-white.
'Neon Lights'
Leaves are bright green, large and deeply cut with blackish centers. 
'Pink Skyrocket'
Large, light pink fragrant flowers and deeply cut leaves that have a black central spot. Leaves turn almost completely black in wintertime.

Tiarella nautila (Sail-Leaf Foamflower)
The species is endemic to the Blue Ridge Mountains in the southeastern United States, and is named for its sail-like stem leaves. Flowers are white to light pink. 

Tiarella polyphylla (Asian Foamflower)
This species is native to Asia, and is a perennial herbaceous plant that produces spikes of small, whitish flowers with no petals. 

​Tiarella trifoliata unifoliata (Tiarella unifoliata) (Sugar-Scoop, Western Foamflower)
Best in zones A3, 1-7 and 14-17, this species is native to Alaska down to California and east to the Rocky Mountains. Leaves are dark green and divided, and flowers are white and bloom on 1.5 foot tall stems followed by fruits that look like scoops of sugar.

Tiarella wherryi (Tiarella cordifolia collina) (Wherry's Foamflower)
This species grows well in zones 2-9 and 14-21 and is native to the southeastern United States. It is slower to spread than other species, and flower clusters are more slender, often tinged with pink.

Caring for Tiarella

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Tiarella
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Page 630, Tiarella
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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