The heartleaf foamflower is an abundantly flowering small shrub that quickly forms carpet-like populations. Here are information about the pretty ground cover and how to care for.
Profile of heartleaf foamflower:
Scientific name: Tiarella cordifolia
Plant family: saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae)
Other names: heartleaved foamflower, Allegheny foamflower, false miterwort, coolwort
Sowing time: after flowering
Planting time: spring
Flowering period: April to May
Location: partially shaded to shady
Soil quality: sandy to loamy, moderately nutritious, humus rich
These information are for temperate climate!
Use in: bouquets, ground cover, embankments, grave planting, group planting, underplanting, area greening, natural garden, park area, rhododendron garden, forest garden
Winter hardiness: hardy, USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3 (-37 °C / -35 °F)
Bee and insect friendly: Yes
Plant characteristics and classification of heartleaf foamflower
Plant order, origin and occurrence of heartleaf foamflower
The heartleaf foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), sometimes also called heartleaved foamflower, is a mostly evergreen perennial with beautiful funnel-shaped inflorescences. Together with four other species, including the American foamflower (Tiarella wherryi), it forms the genus of foamflowers (Tiarella) within the saxifrage family (Saxifragaceae). Originally, heartleaf foamflower grows in moist, nutrient-rich mountain forests and on the edge of the banks in eastern North America. The range there extends from Nova Scotia in the north to Alabama and Georgia in the south and Minnesota in the west.
Characteristics of heartleaf foamflower
Plant
The heartleaf foamflower is a creeping and usually evergreen perennial that spreads over above-ground runners. It can grow up to 20 centimeters (8 in) high and forms lush and dense carpets.
Leaves
The dainty, oval heart-shaped, slightly hairy leaves are 6 to 8 centimeters (2.4 to 3.2 in) long and have three to five flat lobes. They turn bronze-red in autumn and have scarlet to red-brown points, lines or stripes. Sometimes the foliage is also a solid green. Since heartleaf foamflower is evergreen and takes on a pretty autumn color, the plant is valued as a decorative ornamental leaf.
Blossoms
Small, simple, creamy white to pale pink flowers appear from April to May on upright clusters on stems up to 30 centimeters (12 in) long above the foliage. The flowers attract many bees and butterflies and are a welcome source of food early in the year.
Fruit
Small capsule fruits with black seeds are formed as fruits.
Heartleaf foamflower – cultivation and care
Location
The location for Tiarella cordifolia should be partially shady to shady.
Soil
The decorative plant likes to be in a moderately moist, slightly acidic and well-drained soil that should not be compacted or deeply rooted. A pH of 6 to 7 is ideal.
Planting heartleaf foamflower
In spring, plant the heartleaf foamflower at a distance of about 30 centimeters (12 in) in the bed or any other desired place in the garden. You can plant up to eight plants per square meter. (10 sq ft.) Then it quickly forms a dense carpet of plants.
Care / Watering / Fertilization
Water the perennial especially during longer dry periods. It is enough to fertilize the plant in spring and autumn by raking leaf compost into the soil. Otherwise the perennial does not need any further care. You can remove withered and withered things after flowering.
Division
You can divide the foam bloom in early spring and replant it in a different location.
Propagation
You can either divide the foam flower in spring or sow it after flowering. The best way to propagate is to cut off rooted runners in late summer.
Diseases and pests
The foam bloom is relatively resistant to diseases. The leaves are rarely attacked by snails. Unfortunately, the black weevil appears relatively often on the leaves, which is best combated by removing the infested leaves. Alternatively, it can be doused once with nematodes if there is an infestation in early summer and midsummer.
Wintering
The foam bloom is very hardy down to -37 °C / -35 °F. There are no speical measure necessary for winter.
Use in the garden
Heartleaf foamflower is suitable as a ground cover, for grave planting, for the edge of a path and for light wooded edges. Due to the same or similar location requirements, the heartleaf foamflower goes well with rhododendrons, ferns and other more shade-tolerant plants. It is also an excellent cut flower for the vase and can be tied into pretty little bouquets.
Varieties
There are numerous varieties and hybrids of Tiarella cordifolia that were primarily cultivated in the 1980s and 1990s. Often the varieties are similar and only differ in the shape of the leaves and the intensity of the red-brown spots on the leaves.
- “Glossy” has large, glossy, solid green leaves and white flowers
- “Dark Eyes” is between 15 and 30 centimeters (6 and 12 in) high and just as wide, the flowers are more pink, the foliage is green
- ‘Brandywine’ is characterized by fragrant white flowers and beautiful autumn colors on the leaves
- “Eco Rambling Silhouette” stands out due to its beautiful leaf drawing. It is a tough variety that quickly forms dark carpets
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