Tiarella 'PINK SKYROCKET' foamflower

Dan Heims, the breeder of Pink Skyrocket foamflower from the American nursery Terra Nova, describes the colour of its buds as shrimp‑pink – and he is right. And perhaps to give the cultivar a touch of drama, he named it Pink Skyrocket, because its flower spikes rise like a firework shot into the spring sky, bursting into bright colour against the backdrop of its striking foliage. The individual flowers are tiny and star‑shaped, turning almost white when fully open, which adds movement and lightness to the whole inflorescence, shaped like a narrow, pointed spike.

The leaves are deeply lobed, light green in spring with prominent dark maroon veins. As the season progresses, the leaves darken and often develop purplish to bronze tones that intensify in autumn. The plant forms a compact, regular, gently mounded clump with foliage held close to the ground. In leaf it reaches around 15–20 cm, while the flowering stems rise to about 25–30 cm, giving the flowers a light, airy presence above the mound. The habit is stable and compact, with no tendency to spread aggressively. The cultivar is protected by patents PP13,382 (USA – 2002) and 13697 (EU – 2004).

Hybrid tiarellas rank among the most reliable perennials for partial shade and shade, as they derive from woodland species that naturally grow beneath tree canopies and along moist forest streams. They thrive in sites with dappled or morning sun and afternoon shade, or in all‑day natural shade. They will survive in deep shade, but flowering is reduced and leaf markings may be less pronounced. The soil should be loose, humus‑rich and consistently slightly moist, but never waterlogged. They do not tolerate prolonged drought, yet they do not require heavy watering – it is enough to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Although their foliage is often evergreen to semi‑evergreen, it tends to look tired after winter, and we recommend cutting all leaves back as early as possible before the flower stems begin to emerge. Tiarellas are excellent as underplanting beneath shrubs and trees, in shaded borders, natural woodland plantings, along paths or in mixed shady borders. Feeding with compost or leaf mould enhances both flowering and leaf size. They are resistant to pests and diseases, suffering only in heavy, waterlogged soils where root rot may occur. They perform well in containers provided they have shade and regular watering. Their hardiness ranges from –34 (USDA zone 4) to –40 °C (USDA zone 3) depending on the hybrid lineage.

Last update 27-04-2026