The Well-Tended Perennial Garden The Essential Guide to Planting and Pruning Techniques, Third Edition

Tiarella cordifolia

foamflower

Saxifragaceae

White flower spikes; green heart-shaped

leaves

12 in. (6 in.) high; 12–24 in. wide

Part–full shade

Blooms May–June

Zones 3–8

pruning Deadheading improves the

overall appearance of the plant and

often produces sporadic rebloom later

in the season. The foliage remains

evergreen to semi-evergreen, so do not

prune for the winter. Plants spread by

stolons, and these are easily pulled up

and cut off to prevent invasion.

other maintenance Requires

humus-rich, acidic soil. Avoid sunny

locations. Tolerates brief periods of

drought. Stoloniferous habit is good

for use as a groundcover and spread is

easy to control. Divide in the spring as

needed, or remove and replant

runners at any time.

related plantS Tiarella wherryi,

Wherry’s foamflower, is a clump

former. Shallow rooted. Plant in the

spring for establishment before winter.

Press back into the soil if frost heaving

occurs.

Tradescantia

×andersoniana

spiderwort

commelinaceae

Purple, blue, white, or pink triangular

flowers; straplike leaves

18–24 in. high; 24 in. wide

Full sun–part shade

Blooms June–July

Zones 3–9

pruning Plants usually are in flower

for 2 months or more, but individual

flowers last for only half a day and

then the petals neatly dissolve away.

Normally all buds are closed by late

afternoon (an important feature to

keep in mind when designing an

evening garden!). Once all flowering is

finished in the cluster of buds, dead-

head down to new lateral flowers.

Deadheading requires close inspection

to be sure that all the flowers in the

bud cluster have finished. Deadhead-

ing is particularly useful to prolong

the bloom of young or vigorously

growing plants, which may flower for

the entire summer. Most often,

though, the plant’s foliage browns

after the initial bloom, or it is infected

with rust, normally by midsummer,

and the plant will benefit from being

cut back by two-thirds or to the

ground. New, lush foliage emerges

within about 3 weeks. The foliage

remains low (6 in.) and plants often

repeat bloom, although usually only

sparsely. Keep plants moist for more

vigorous regrowth. Plants that are

stressed by drought, heat, or competi-

tion from other plants, or are in need

of division, may not put on much, if

any, new growth that season after

pruning to the ground. Some plants in

such conditions will put on a small

amount of regrowth when the cool

weather of autumn arrives. Cutting

plants back or deadheading before

seed sets will reduce reseeding, which

Tiarella cordifolia