Tiarella 'SPRING SYMPHONY' foamflower
Tiarella
The genus Tiarella, known as foamflower, belongs to the Saxifragaceae family and comprises seven recognised species distributed from the Himalayas and East Asia to Alaska and the eastern United States, where its greatest diversity occurs. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778) in 1753, who designated Tiarella cordifolia as the type species. The genus is botanically valuable for its marked morphological variability – species differ in the presence or absence of aerial stems, in their ability to produce stolons, that is, horizontal creeping shoots used for vegetative spread, as well as in the shape of basal leaves and the structure of the inflorescence. Modern taxonomy, especially the 2021 revision by G. L. Nesom, shows that the eastern North American group is far more complex than previously assumed, and the broadly defined T. cordifolia has been split into several distinct species. Tiarella thus represents a textbook example of a genus in which detailed fieldwork and herbarium revision fundamentally reshape our understanding of species boundaries. What all tiarellas share, however, is their woodland origin, short rhizomes and delicate inflorescences that gave rise to the English name foamflower.
Modern garden foamflowers arise from the natural diversity of North American species described by botanists since the 18th century – beginning with Carl Linnaeus (1707–1778), followed by Asa Gray (1810–1888), and continuing with the contemporary taxonomic revisions of Guy L. Nesom (born 1945). Breeders deliberately combine lines and forms of species with distinctive traits, creating new hybrid groups that bring together the best features of each branch of the genus – compact growth, attractive foliage, long flowering and the ability to form a dense groundcover even in shade. The species most frequently involved include T. cordifolia, T. trifoliata and T. wherryi, which provide a wide range of leaf shapes, venation patterns and growth strategies. The resulting cultivars are not only beautiful but also easy to grow and consistently true to their woodland ancestry, giving them a natural and calming presence in the garden.
Spring Symphony foamflower captivates with its delicacy and abundant flowering as soon as its raceme-like inflorescences open in April. With a touch of well‑deserved poetry, it appears like a light spring mist with a pink hue rising above the foliage before one fully realises that winter has truly ended. The plant forms a compact, regular clump of deeply lobed, light green leaves marked with broad, dark mahogany veins that look almost hand‑painted. This contrast gives the plant year‑round ornamental value, as the pattern remains visible even outside the flowering season. The flowers emerge with the first truly warm days of spring, usually in mid‑April, arranged in upright racemes of small, star‑shaped white blossoms that open from soft pink buds gradually from the bottom upwards.
Its growth is naturally compact, without any tendency to spread uncontrollably – a clear difference from some botanical species that produce stolons and quickly occupy surrounding space. ‘Spring Symphony’ keeps a tidy shape, forming a dense but non‑aggressive clump, making it suitable even for smaller gardens or for underplanting shrubs. Compared with the species, it has more pronounced leaf markings, a longer flowering period and an overall finer, more cultivated appearance. Its origin is linked to the breeding programme of Terra Nova Nurseries, led by Daniel M. Heims – breeder and co‑founder and president of Terra Nova, one of the most influential American nurseries specialising in modern perennials. The cultivar is protected by the following patents: PP12,397 (USA – 2002) and 11333 (EU – 2003).
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
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- STANDARD QUALITY - Plants of this group are 1st class quality with number of branches and overall density adequate to their size and age, considering they were container grown.
- DE LUXE QUALITY - This label guarantees a luxurious quality of manually selected plants that, compared to their height and age, are exceptionally dense and beautiful.
- EXTRA - These plants are usually mature and bigger specimens with exceptional overall appearance.
- STANDARD (as described in the plant form) means a tree with a trunk of 190-210 cm and a crown at the top, unless specified differently. The commercial size for trees is their girth measured in the height of 1m from ground.
- HOBBY - These plants are of the same quality as our standard-quality plants but younger and therefore cheaper.
- SHRUB - a woody plant with branches growing bushy from the ground level.
- HALF-STANDARD or MINI-STANDARD - a small tree with shorter trunk, its size is usually specified.
- FEATHERED - These are trees with branches growing already from the base of the trunk and up along the stem.
- GRASSES and PERENNIALS - Sizes given usually read the diameter of the pot or the clump, as specified.
