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Tiarella cordifolia var. collina (Heartleaf foamflower)
Makin, Julie

Tiarella cordifolia var. collina Wherry

Heartleaf foamflower, Wherry's foamflower

Saxifragaceae (Saxifrage Family)

Synonyms: Tiarella wherryi

USDA Symbol: TICOC

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This lovely, low-growing plant of Eastern forests, formerly known as Tiarella wherryi and still often sold in nurseries as Wherrys Foamflower, has lovely purple-and-green leaves that turn a burgundy in the fall. Its fuzzy leaves and spring stalks of ethereal white flowers make it a welcome addition to the eastern woodland garden or shady flowerbed. It is well behaved and wont colonize but can be massed in drifts to provide herb-layer cover in the shade. Though normally deciduous, it can be evergreen if protected from north winds through the winter.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Pubescence: Puberulent
Size Notes: Foliage to 6 inches. Bloom stalks to 20 inches.
Leaf: Green with purple accents. Burgundy in winter.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: Flowers in 1 to 6 inch flower spikes
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft. , 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , MS , NC , SC
Native Distribution: Eastern North America, Zones 5 to 7
Native Habitat: Rich, mesic woodlands
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Rich, moist, acidic, woodland soils and moist granite outcrops
Conditions Comments: Does not tolerate flooding.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: A fine, deciduous, herb-layer plant for the Southeastern woodland or shady flower garden.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Toadshade Wildflower Farm - Frenchtown, NJ

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Longwood Gardens - Newark, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 996 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (1994) Wasowski, Sally and Andy Wasowski

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Tiarella cordifolia var. collina in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Tiarella cordifolia var. collina in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Tiarella cordifolia var. collina

Metadata

Record Modified: 2012-04-12
Research By: DEW

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