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.
‘Sugar and Spice’ is a medium-sized, mounding foamflower hybrid that is primarily noted for its white to pink spring flowers and its pinnately divided green leaves with dark center marks. This foamflower results from a cross between unknown parents, however the patent holder suggests that T. trifoliata var. laciniata and T. wherryi are probably part of the parentage. Pinnately divided and deeply dissected shiny green leaves marked with a dark center band on each division emerge in spring in a mound rising to 8” tall and 12” wide. Slightly fragrant, frosted pink flowers with a white interior bloom in April-May in bottlebrush-like racemes atop stems rising above the foliage mound to 13” tall. U.S. Plant Patent PP16,738 was issued on June 27, 2006.
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.