Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soil in part shade to full shade. Prefers humusy, organically rich, moisture-retentive soils. Soil should not be allowed to dry out. Avoid wet soils which can be fatal particularly in winter. Removal of flower spikes after bloom will improve the appearance of the foliage mound. Foliage is semi-evergreen in the St. Louis area where the amount of retained foliage color in winter, if any, is in large part dependent upon the severity of the temperatures.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Tiarella is a genus of about 7 species of herbaceous perennials from East Asia and North America. They make good ground covers in woodland gardens and shady borders.
Plants are in the same family as and somewhat suggestive of Heuchera, Tellima and Mitella. Tiarella is sometimes commonly called false miterwort because of its similarity to Mitella (miterwort).
Genus name comes from the Greek tiara meaning a small crown in reference to the form of the fruit.
‘Tntia041’ is a patented foam flower that is commonly sold under the trademark name of STARGAZER MERCURY. This is a rhizomatous, clump-forming Tiarella hybrid (parents are unknown) which is noted for its compact size, patterned foliage and pink flowers. It typically forms a basal foliage mound to 10” tall and 15” wide of palmate, deeply cut, star-shaped, green leaves with dark striping along the mid-veins of the finger-like lobes. Tiny pink flowers bloom in spring (April-May) in bottle-brush-like racemes atop erect, wiry, mostly leafless stems which rise above the foliage mound to a height of 14”. Plants may rebloom, albeit sporadically, throughout late spring and summer. U.S. Plant Patent PP16,734 was issued on June 27, 2006.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for powdery mildew. Susceptible to root weevils and slugs.
Uses
Excellent selection for shaded areas of rock gardens, woodland gardens, border fronts, naturalized plantings or moist areas along streams or ponds. Mass for an attractive ground cover. Containers.