Common name: Foamflower, False Mitrewort
Family: Saxifragaceae, Saxifrage
Height x width: 6-12" x 12-24"
Growth rate: moderate to fast
Foliage: basal on long petioles or stoloniferous stems, slightly hairy leaves and stems, generally ovate to cordate, variously toothed or lobed, occasionally with dark red markings
Flowers: white to pinkish on 6-9" tall racemes above foliage in late spring to early summer
Hardiness: zones 3-6 to 8
Soil: moist, well-drained
Light: part to full shade, may tolerate sun in North if sufficient moisture
Pests and Problems: powdery mildew if insufficient air movement
Landscape habit, uses: groundcover (spreading cultivars), shade garden or borders, natural woodland garden in masses for best effect
Other interest: from the Greek word tiara or small crown, refering to the shape of the fruit
Other culture: low maintenance
Propagation: division of clumps or rooted plantlets on stoloniferous cultivars, seed
Species:
• cordifolia var. collina: wherryi
• polyphylla (pol-ee-phil' ah)--native to Asia, zones 4-8, similar to cordifolia only flower more nodding and racemes more branched
• trifoliata (tri-fol-ee-ah' tah)--Three-leaved Foamflower, native to western N. America, differs from other species having three-leaflets and minute flowers with thread-like petals, also less tolerant of heat and humidity in eastern U.S.
• wherryi (where' ee-yii)--Wherry's Foamflower, depending on
reference and authority may be listed as cordifolia var. collina,
native to S.E. U.S., zones 3-8, clump-forming and taller than cordifolia
Those marked * are most common in U.S. commerce, although species are
more commonly seen.
| Cultivar | species | habit | foliage, other | |
| 'Brandywine' | cordifolia | spreads | dark red centers | |
| 'Dark Eyes' | cordifolia | spreads | burgundy centers | |
| 'Dunvegan' | wherryi | clumps | 5-lobed | |
| 'Eco Eyed Glossy' | cordifolia | spreads | glossy | |
| 'Eco Red Heart' | cordifolia | spreads | deep red centers | |
| 'Eco Splotched Velvet' | cordifolia | spreads | velvety surface, dark red at base | |
| 'Erika Leigh' | wherryi | clumps | deeply 3-lobed with central lobe longest | |
| 'Filagree Lace' | hybrid | clumps | trifoliata x cordifolia, deeply lobed | |
| 'Freckles' | cordifolia | spreads | red spotted | |
| 'George Shenk Pink' | wherryi | clumps | pink flowers | |
| 'Inkblot' | cordifolia | spreads | dark green blotched red | |
| 'Laird of Skye' | wherryi | clumps | deeply lobed | |
| 'Moorgrun' | polyphylla | spreads | slow spread, many flowers | |
| *'Oakleaf' | wherryi | clumps | 3-lobed as some oak leaves | |
| 'Pinwheel' | cordifolia | spreads | vigorous, starry white flowers | |
| (Eco) 'Running Tapestry' | cordifolia | spreads | heart-shaped, slight red veins | |
| *'Slick Rock' | cordifolia | spreads | 5-lobes, vigorous | |
| 'Tiger Stripe' | cordifolia | spreads | light green with red veins | |
| 'Winterglow' | wherryi | clumps | large flecked red, golden in fall | |
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