Tiarella wherryi, commonly known as Foam Flower, is a beautiful, shade-loving hardy perennial producing delicate, upright sprays of tiny, star-shaped flowers in soft white with blush-pink tones. The airy, almost frothy flower spikes appear in late spring and early summer above attractive, deeply lobed foliage, often marked with darker burgundy veining. As autumn approaches, the leaves develop beautiful bronze and reddish tints, extending the plant's ornamental interest beyond its flowering season.
Perfect for woodland gardens, shady borders and underplanting deciduous shrubs, Tiarella wherryi thrives in cool, humus-rich soil with consistent moisture and good drainage. Its compact, clump-forming habit makes it particularly useful for naturalistic planting schemes, where it combines beautifully with ferns, hellebores and other woodland perennials. Fully hardy and relatively low maintenance once established, it is an excellent choice for bringing delicate spring flowers into those trickier shaded areas of the garden.
When to Sow: Mar–May or Sep–Nov. Spring and autumn sowing are both suitable, with autumn sowings benefiting from natural winter temperatures.
HOW TO SOW
Surface sow seeds onto moist, well-drained seed compost and gently press into the surface without covering, as light is beneficial for germination. Place in a cold frame or sheltered, cool outdoor position, ideally around 10°C, keeping the compost consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Germination can be slow and irregular, particularly when temperatures fluctuate. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant into individual pots and grow on in a cool, sheltered position. Protect young plants during their first winter and plant out the following spring into moisture-retentive, humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade.
Classification: Hardy perennial
Expert Level: Some experience required
Germination Time: 2 weeks–3 months, sometimes irregular
Flowering Time: Apr–Jun,
Site: Partial shade to full shade, ideally dappled woodland shade
Soil Type: Moist, humus-rich, well-drained soil
Soil Acidity: Acid, neutral or alkaline
Moisture: Prefers consistently moist soil with good drainage; avoid prolonged waterlogging, particularly in winter
Care: Mulch with leaf mould or organic matter to retain moisture, remove spent flower stems if desired and divide established clumps in spring. Avoid excessive fertiliser
Use: Woodland gardens, shady borders, ground cover, underplanting and naturalistic planting
Days to Maturity: Year 2
Height: 20–35 cm
Plant Spacing: 25–30 cm