Foam flower (Tiarella 'Lacquer Leaf')
Tiarella 'Lacquer Leaf' is a low-maintenance perennial, offering glossy foliage and delicate white-coral springs blooms. Ideal for shady woodland gardens.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is a standout herbaceous perennial deeply valued for its striking, glossy foliage, which gives it the “lacquered” appearance reflected in its name. This selection of Foam flower thrives in the dappled light of woodland settings, providing excellent low-growing texture where many other plants struggle. Its compact growth habit and ease of care make it an invaluable component for shaded borders and groundcover applications.
The visual appeal is twofold: rich, dark green leaves often retain some color through winter, complemented in spring by delicate, airy spires of white flowers tinged with coral. As a reliable, rhizomatous spreader, Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ forms dense mats that suppress weeds while offering continuous visual interest throughout the growing season. Gardeners seeking low-fuss, high-impact shade plants should certainly consider this superb cultivar.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Saxifragaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-1.5 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: May
- Bloom Description: White tinged with coral
- Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Planting Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is best achieved in spring or early fall. The ideal location offers part shade to full shade, mimicking its native woodland habitat. Success hinges on soil quality; this Foam flower demands humusy, organically rich, and moisture-retentive soil that drains well. Good drainage is critical, as allowing the soil to become overly wet, particularly in winter, can prove fatal to the plant.
Maintain medium moisture levels consistently; do not allow the soil around Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ to dry out completely. While it prefers rich soil, be cautious with fertilization; excess nutrients can sometimes promote looser growth and detract from the foliage density. After the spring bloom subsides, removing the flower spikes will tidy the appearance and encourage the foliage mound to remain dense and attractive.
In climates with milder winters, like the warmer end of its range, the foliage of Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ often remains semi-evergreen. The degree of winter color retention depends heavily on the severity of local temperatures, offering a subtle reward in early spring cleanup.
Landscape Uses
This reliable Foam flower excels as an understory planting beneath deciduous trees or along shaded pathways where its glossy leaves catch filtered light. Because Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ creates an attractive ground cover, massing several plants together effectively establishes a lush, low-maintenance carpet in woodland gardens. It is an excellent selection for the front of shaded borders, providing textural contrast to ferns and hostas.
For specialized applications, Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ adds charm to moist areas near streams or pondsides, and it performs well in containers, provided the potting mix remains rich and consistently damp. Its tidy, clumping habits also make it suitable for rock gardens where adequate moisture can be guaranteed next to dry-stone elements.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
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. ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is a rhizomatous, clump-forming foamflower hybrid which is noted for its glossy (lacquered) foliage and its dense spires of light pink flowers in spring. It forms a basal foliage mound of lobed, maple-like dark green leaves. Foliage mound typically grows 6-8” tall and 12” wide. Tiny white flowers tinged with coral bloom in spring in bottle-brush-like racemes atop erect, wiry, mostly leafless stems which rise above the foliage mound to a height of 15”. An abundant bloomer that produces numerous flowering stems.
Tolerances
- Deer
Potential Problems
Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is generally robust and avoids serious insect or disease problems when sited correctly. The primary concern involves moisture management; avoid excessive wetness or poor drainage, which can lead to root rot. Gardeners should actively monitor for signs of powdery mildew, especially in humid environments where air circulation is limited. Slugs and root weevils are common pests to watch for; employing physical barriers or appropriate treatments when necessary helps maintain the pristine appearance of the foliage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Foam flower suitable for?
Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Foam flower grow?
This plant typically maintains a height between 0.5 and 1.5 feet, with a spread of 0.5 to 1 foot, forming a dense, low mound of foliage.
What sun exposure does Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ need?
This perennial prefers part shade, thriving best where it receives dappled or filtered light, though it can tolerate full shade conditions.
When does Foam flower bloom?
Flowering occurs in May, presenting unique racemes of white blooms subtly tinged with coral.
Conclusion
The Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ offers exceptional textural contrast and reliable performance in shady garden spaces, making it a horticultural favorite for woodland and border plantings. Its low maintenance combined with the unique glossy foliage ensures that this Foam flower provides year-round structure. Before planting, ensure your site offers the rich, consistently moist, yet well-drained soil required for this superb cultivar to flourish.
Companion Planting
Selecting companions that share the cultural needs of Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ is key to creating a successful shade garden tapestry. Pair it with plants that appreciate moist, organically rich soil and protection from harsh afternoon sun. Good choices include various Heuchera cultivars, which share genus relation and offer contrasting leaf colors like lime green or burgundy. Ferns, large-leafed Hosta, and Astilbe are excellent partners, as they thrive in similar conditions and provide varying textures to highlight the reflective qualities of the Foam flower foliage.
Seasonal Care Calendar
Spring preparation should include removing any lingering debris and top-dressing the soil around the Tiarella ‘Lacquer Leaf’ with a fresh layer of compost to replenish organic matter needed for moisture retention and nutrition. Summer care focuses heavily on consistent watering; if natural rainfall is insufficient, supplement through slow, deep watering to keep the soil evenly damp. In late summer or early fall, deadhead any spent flower stalks to promote a tidy appearance. Winter preparation requires ensuring the soil is not compacted or waterlogged before hard freezes set in, which is the most crucial preventative measure for winter survival.
