Tiarella

Foamflower, Sugar-scoop
Saxifragaceae
Perennials, Flowers

Clump-forming plants to about1 1/2 ft. high (in bloom) and 1 1/2–2 ft. wide; spread by rhizomes(and by aboveground runners, inthe case of T. cordifolia). Leavesarise directly from rhizomes; they are evergreen but maychange color in autumn. Selectionswith year-round colorfulfoliage are becoming popular;look for new introductions inaddition to those describedbelow. Narrow, erect flowerstems carry many small whiteor pink flowers. Useful in shadyrock gardens; make prettygroundcovers but will not bearfoot traffic.

Tiarella selections and hybrids

Many of the choicest foamflowersare of uncertain origin.‘Cygnet’ has star-shaped leaveswith purple markings along theveins; its white flowers openfrom pink buds. In ‘Mint Chocolate’,deeply lobed leaves havea central zone of deep brownishpurple; flowers are pinkishwhite. ‘Neon Lights’ has large,deeply cut leaves with wide,black centers and bright greenedges. ‘Pink Skyrocket’ haslarge, fragrant, light pink flowersand deeply cut leaves with asmall black center; leaves turnalmost black in winter.

Tiarella trifoliata unifoliata

Native fromAlaska to Northern California,east to the Rocky Mountains.Dark green leaves divided intothree tooth-edged leaflets. Tinywhite flowers on 1 1/2-ft. stalksare followed by little fruits thatlook like sugar scoops.