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.
‘Black Velvet’ is a clump-forming foamflower hybrid which is noted for its attractive foliage and its spires of pinkish-white flowers in spring. Plant parents are T. ‘Pinwheel’ (female/seed parent) and Tiarella Seedling 97-63 (male/pollen parent). It forms a basal foliage mound of lobed, deeply cut, dark green leaves with black center blotches and black striping along the lobe veins. Foliage mound typically grows 10-14” tall and 15” wide. Tiny white flowers tinged with pink bloom in spring in bottle-brush-like racemes atop erect, wiry, mostly leafless stems which rise above the foliage mound to a height of 19”. Flowers have a very faint fragrance. U.S. Plant Patent PP12,348 issued January 8, 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.