Tiarella, the foam flower, is a group
of low growing plants that are good for ground cover in shady or
partially shady conditions.
They have leaves with prominent veins
that are often hairy too. The leaves frequently turn russet shades in
the fall before the plant retires for the winter.
The flowers that are creamy white have a
lightness to them and the stamens are as showy as the petals. The name
"Foam flower" may by stretching things a bit far, but it not
entirely undeserved.
Perhaps their most useful characteristic
is that they will grow and thrive even in dry shady conditions where
little else will. Don't take this to extremes though, if you've a spot
where even weeds won't grow at the moment, then no cultivated plant is
going to bother itself either.
Propagation by division in spring or
fall. Mulch in spring, adversely affected by excessive winter wet.
