The illustrated growing guide
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
Family Saxifragaceae
Est. zones 3-8
A lovely, well-mannered native groundcover for moist shade — patterned maple-like leaves (many with burgundy markings) and delicate spring spikes of foamy white flowers alive with small bees. It knits into a gentle weed-proof carpet, semi-evergreen in mild winters, and layers beautifully with ferns, bluebells, and coral bells. Deer-resistant and one of the easiest shade natives.
Part Shade to Full Shade
Moderate water
Moderate growth
Deer-resistant
Native to North America
Attracts bees
From the print shop
Growing foamflower? Hang it.
Our Shade Garden collection carries foamflower — Tiarella cordifolia, print Nº 6, “Foamflower.”
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will foamflower suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what foamflower actually needs.
Hardy inZones 3-8Foamflower at a glance
Common foamflower problems
- Almost none
- Almost none
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow foamflower: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate foamflower
III
The year
What foamflower asks for, month by month.
The foamflower year, month by month
BloomPruneWhat each band means
- Bloom — flowers open — pollinators working, frost on blossoms is the danger.
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The foamflower year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar bloom, pruning
- Apr bloom, pruning
- May bloom, pruning
- Jun bloom
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Foamflower in the garden system
- Groundcover layer perennial
- Nectary/insectary
- Living mulch
What foamflower is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxic
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of foamflower, ruled as a catalogue.
Best foamflower varieties & cultivars
'Brandywine' (bold veins); 'Running Tapestry'; 'Sugar and Spice' (cut leaves); × Heucherella hybrids
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to foamfloweryet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
VIII
Questions
Foamflower questions, answered straight.
Do deer eat foamflower?
Rarely — foamflower is considered deer-resistant, which makes it one of the safer unfenced choices in deer country. Hungry deer in a hard winter test every rule, but it's a low-risk pick.
Is foamflower safe for kids and pets?
Foamflower is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate foamflower?
Division or seed.
IX
Elsewhere
Where foamflower sits in the library.
Bearberry (Kinnikinnick)
Wild Ginger
Mayapple
Virginia Creeper