Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers humusy, organically rich, moisture-retentive soils. Soil should not be allowed to dry out. Avoid wet soils which can be fatal particularly in winter. Removal of flower spikes after bloom will improve the appearance of the foliage mound. Foliage is semi-evergreen in the St. Louis area where the amount of retained foliage color in winter, if any, is in large part dependent upon the severity of the temperatures.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tiarella is a genus of about 7 species of herbaceous perennials from East Asia and North America. They make good ground covers in woodland gardens and shady borders.
Plants are in the same family as and somewhat suggestive of Heuchera, Tellima and Mitella. Tiarella is sometimes commonly called false miterwort because of its similarity to Mitella (miterwort).
Genus name comes from the Greek tiara meaning a small crown in reference to the form of the fruit.
'Pink Skyrocket' was developed by Daniel M. Heims of Terra Nova Nurseries from one of many seedlings that were the result of a mass pollination of interspecific hybrids and species in a greenhouse in Canby, Oregon. Its exact parentage is unknown. 'Pink Skyrocket' is a clump-forming hybrid foamflower that has palmate, strongly dissected, shiny green basal leaves that are highlighted with black to dark red markings along the mid-rib and central veins. In fall, leaves grown in full sun are burnished bronze; leaves grown in shade are deep shiny black. It has cone-shaped, brush-like heads of delicate, shrimp pink flowers that are held above the foliage. It grows 1/2 to 1 ft. tall and 3/4 to 1 ft. wide. U.S. Plant Patent PP#13,382 awarded December 17, 2002.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for powdery mildew. Susceptible to root weevils and slugs.
Uses
Excellent selection for shaded areas of rock gardens, woodland gardens, border fronts, naturalized plantings or moist areas along streams or ponds. Mass for an attractive ground cover. Containers.