Foam Flower
Tiarella “Sugar and Spice”
Type: Perennial
Exposure: Full / Part Shade
Water: Regular

Here’s a hard-working little perennial for the fronts of your shady borders and in shady containers. It forms a mound of deeply-cut leaves that will reach somewhere between 6 and 12 inches high (15-30cm) and equally wide. These leaves each feature a handsome splotch of bronzy color on their insides during the spring and summer, and then will often color further in fall, resulting in quite the show (That’s why I’m featuring them now.)

Spring sees the production of small, delicate- looking flower spikes that rise above the foliage, usually in April or May. These are white frosted with pink and are lightly fragrant. Removing them when they’re past their prime will improve the look of the foliage, plus increase the chance of a repeat bloom later in the year. Note that in milder areas, the foliage can be semi-evergreen, lasting well into winter.

Foam Flower is a good container plant thanks to its small size but big punch. It’s also a natural choice for woodland and streamside settings, and can be absolutely spectacular en masse.

Cheers,

John