Plotwright
Home
Foamflower
Habit (mature) · Wikimedia Commons contributor · CC BY-SA 3.0
Limited coverage
Foamflower
Tiarella cordifolia
A native eastern North American semi-evergreen perennial with heart-shaped foliage and frothy white-to-pink spring flower spikes — among the most reliable native shade groundcovers for woodland gardens. Spreads by stolons in some forms; clumping in others (cultivars selected for both habits).
Native: 23 US states + 4 CA provinces
Review: Source-backed
Climate fit: broad (77/100)
Pollinator
Filler
Light
Part shade
Water
Consistent moisture
Mature size
8-16" tall · 12" apart
Hardy in zones
3a-8b
brutally cold to frosty winters
Summer heat range
Cool-Warm
cool to warm summers Interim Plotwright tier until the plant AHS range is authored.
Native in Illinois
No
Related products
Sponsored
Moisture retention
Mulch, watering rings, compost, coconut coir, and soil-cover supplies.
Search moisture retention on Amazon
Watering and irrigation
Watering cans, soaker hoses, drip kits, moisture meters, and timers.
Search watering and irrigation on Amazon
Transplanting and establishment
Trowels, transplant spades, starter fertilizer, root stimulators, and watering bags.
Search transplanting and establishment on Amazon
Pest and disease monitoring
Sticky traps, hand lenses, sprayers, disease-monitoring tools, and pest barriers.
Search pest and disease monitoring on Amazon
Propagation
Rooting hormone, propagation trays, cutting tools, division knives, and labels.
Search propagation on Amazon
Plotwright may earn a commission from purchases made through these links, at no extra cost to you.
Native across 27 US states and Canadian provinces — a wide-ranging part of North America's plant communities.
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Cold hardiness
Now
Zone 6b
USDA
Chicago, IL · 1991-2020 average annual coldest day
Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (1991-2020 climatology) via ArcGIS FeatureServer
Well-suited
2050
Zone 7b
Plotwright
Your zone + climate-model shift · SSP3-7.0 (regional rivalry)
Well-suited
In plain terms: cold winters — coldest nights typically around -3°F.
Well-suited today and still thriving in 2050.
Heat tolerance
Loading current AHS heat-zone and plant heat-fit data at your coordinates…
Sources & citations
Cite this page
For lesson plans, articles, or research that uses this page. To cite a single upstream fact instead, use its specific source listed below.
Plotwright. (2026, May 17). Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia). Retrieved 2026, June 5, from https://plotwright.garden/plants/foamflower
Sources for every fact
Every fact on this page traces to a source. 18 fields cited18 source-backed.
NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
University extension service
Backs 17 fields
Identity
Summary
Plant type
Light
Moisture
Hardiness
Heat zone
Size
Spacing
Habit
Design roles
Seasonal interest
Growth stages
Lifecycle
Regional guidance
Success tips
Designer notes
Wikimedia Commons
Photo · CC BY-SA 3.0
Backs 1 field
Image
Community photos
The photos above are our reviewed reference set, curated for accuracy.
Plotwright
Climate-aware plant planning — every plant checked against your zone now and in 2050.
support@arteractive.co
© 2026 Plotwright