PlantFiles: Allegheny Foamflower, False Mitrewort, Running Foam Flower
Tiarella cordifolia

This species seem to prefer more toward sun - but will grow in shade but other groundcover - even vinca minor would outcompete it in partial shade for me. Will grow in even poor soil but is not suited for high stress locations. In shade, it tend to start out in patches in spring and then send out runners, partially cover bare spots.

A wild flower thriving in our woods here in Northern New York. A small clump planted in a shady and rather dry nook near the garage colonized happily and quickly. The flowers are delightful and the foliage remains attractive through Summer. The roots form a thick surface mat that is relatively easy to lift and remove so although fast spreading, I find it quite easy to keep in bound.
If you have a corner where few other plants will do well and would like a nice ground cover, consider this carefree plant.

I purchased mine from Prairie Nursery 4 years ago and have been very pleased with the plants. They are the clumping variety, so they stay where you put them! The clump gets a little larger each year and is easily dug and divided in the early spring if you want more. My poor plants get divided every spring! They are flourishing under the walnut tree and under the maple tree where they make rivers of foamy flowers in the spring. (It's too dark under the pine tree and too dry along the NE wall of the house for them.)

The flowers are great in little bouquets. They are easily deadheaded to prevent self-seeding or you can collect the seedheads and scatter the seeds immediately where you want them. The seed does not store well.

I have the cultivar 'Spanish Cross' as well, but it is puny and pathetic compared to the species even if the flowers are pinkish and the leaves different.

Somewhat difficult plant to get established, but carefree once going. Dry soil will kill it quickly in its first year, but after that tolerates drought.

'Cygnet' has poor seed set, so blooms repeatedly late spring into mid summer. Flowers are light pink with darker pink vens, many individual flowers on spikes make the plant's bloom period longer even than the species.