Product Description
Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' PP28012 (30)ct Flat
Common Name: Foamflower
This woodland perennial is truly a plant with interest for all seasons. Starting in spring, bright green foliage will jump out at you from the shade. Each leaf is deeply lobed with pointy edges, with an overall lacy texture. The centers of the leaves have burgundy blotches, like handprint made with paint. Ivory flowers appear just above the foliage in early spring. This foamflower is a semi-running type, forming a compact, dense, rounded mound that will have restrained spreading.
Tiarellas can be grown in containers and in the landscape anywhere that dappled to full shade can be provided. They pair beautifully with hostas and ferns. Tiarellas enjoy popularity thanks to their shade tolerance, unusual leaf shape, dramatically marked foliage, repeat flowering, and light fragrance. The perfect plant for spring interest in your shade garden! This woodland perennial has finely dissected green leaves with a dramatic dark burgundy center and a nicely rounded habit. In early spring, creamy bottlebrush-like flowers cover the entire plant. It has a clumping habit, meaning it is well-behaved and won't take over take over your garden.
Height: 9.0 Inches
Spread: 12.0 Inches
Scape Height: 13.0 Inches
Hardiness Zones: 4,5,6,7,8,9
Flower Color: White Shades
Foliage Color: Green shades
Part Shade (4-6 hrs. Direct Sun) to Full Shade (< 4 hrs. Direct Sun)
Average to Consistent Water Needs
Average to Fertile Soil Quality
Bloomtime: Early Spring - Early Summer
Bee Friendly
Evergreen
Growth Rate: Medium
Border Plant, Container, Cut Flower, Cut Foliage, Edging, Fragrant Flowers, Mass Planting, Small, Native to North America
Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is a beautiful, low-maintenance perennial that is perfect for adding color and texture to shady gardens. It is a hybrid of two North American native species, Tiarella cordifolia and Tiarella wherryi. This clump-forming plant has unique variegated foliage with glossy bright green leaves that have scalloped edges and dark purplish-burgundy centers. In early spring, short flower spikes emerge with mini bell-shaped blooms in an ivory hue that last into the summer. The flowers have a light fragrance, adding another dimension to this delightful plant. Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is also deer-resistant and attracts butterflies.
Characteristics Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is a relatively small plant, typically growing to be about 9 inches tall and 12 inches wide. It has a mounded growth habit and spreads slowly via runners. The leaves are semi-evergreen in areas with mild winters, providing interest even when the flowers are gone. This makes it a valuable addition to the winter garden, offering a touch of green when many other plants have died back.
- Mature Size: 9 inches tall by 12 inches wide
- Hardiness Zones: 4-9
- Flower Color: White
- Foliage Color: Green and burgundy
- Bloom Time: Early spring to early summer
- Sunlight: Part shade to full shade
- Water Requirements: Average water needs; prefers consistently moist soil
- Soil Quality: Average to fertile soil quality
- Soil Chemistry: Acidic to neutral soil
- Other Features: Deer-resistant, attracts butterflies, fragrant flowers
Planting and Care Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' prefers woodland conditions with humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil and dappled to full shade. It can be grown in containers or in the landscape. When planting, dig a hole that is larger than and of equal depth as the root ball. Amend the soil with compost to provide it with consistent, organic nutrients.
- Light Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' grows best in shady to partly shady areas. It can tolerate a bit of morning sun but also thrives in shadier locations. In deep shade, the vibrant colors of the leaves may fade.
- Water Water Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' regularly and deeply, especially in the first year as it is becoming established. It prefers soil that is consistently moist but can tolerate brief periods of dryness. Avoid soggy, waterlogged soil, as this can lead to root rot. When grown in containers, water more frequently to prevent the soil from drying out completely.
- Soil Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' prefers well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter.
- Fertilizer In rich soil, Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is not a heavy feeder and can go years without needing supplemental fertilizer. If your soil is of poor quality, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring. Plants in pots may need more fertilizer, as watering can leach nutrients from the potting soil over time.
- Propagation Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' can be propagated by planting in containers in late summer or spring. It takes 7-10 weeks for the plants to mature.
- Maintenance The only regular maintenance required is deadheading the spent flower spikes in late spring to tidy up the plants and allow for good foliage growth. Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' can be divided in the fall.
Companion Plants Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' pairs beautifully with other shade-loving plants. This creates a diverse, textured shade garden with varied leaf shapes and colors. Some suggestions include:
- Hostas: These come in a wide variety of colors and sizes, making them a versatile companion for Tiarella 'Fingerpaint'.
- Ferns: The delicate texture of ferns contrasts nicely with the bold foliage of Tiarella 'Fingerpaint'.
- Astilbes: These plants have feathery plumes of flowers that add a touch of elegance to the garden.
- Heucheras: Also known as coral bells, these plants come in a variety of colors and have interesting foliage.
- Other Shade-Loving Perennials: Consider adding hellebores, Japanese anemones, hardy geraniums, woodsorrel, and lungwort.
- Spring Bulbs: Underplant with crocus, daffodils, snakehead fritillaria, and camas lilies for early spring color.
- Annuals: Impatiens, wax begonias, sweet alyssum, lobelia, floss flower, nicotiana, browallia, monkey flowers, fuchsia, and coleus can add color and interest throughout the growing season.
- Shrubs: Plant Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' at the base of broadleaf evergreens like azalea, rhododendron, mountain laurel, nandina, daphne, camellia, and pieris. Other shade-tolerant shrubs to consider include hydrangeas, snowberry, mock orange, dogwoods, viburnum, and witch hazel.
Uses in the Garden Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is a versatile plant that can be used in a variety of ways in the garden. It is an excellent groundcover for shady areas, suppressing weeds and adding texture and color. In borders, it can be used as an edging plant or to fill in gaps between taller perennials. Its mounding habit makes it a good choice for adding height and interest to the front of the border. In beds, it can be massed to create a dramatic effect or used as an accent plant. Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' also thrives in containers, where it can be combined with other shade-loving plants to create a stunning display. It is also a good choice for woodland gardens and rock gardens, where it can naturalize and spread among other plants.
Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is a beautiful and versatile plant that is perfect for adding color and texture to shady gardens. Its unique variegated foliage, with its glossy green and deep burgundy markings, provides interest throughout the growing season, and its delicate, fragrant flowers add a touch of elegance in the spring. This low-maintenance perennial is deer-resistant, attracts butterflies, and retains its foliage in mild winters, making it a valuable addition to any shade garden. Whether used as a groundcover, in borders, or as an accent plant, Tiarella 'Fingerpaint' is sure to be a favorite. Consider pairing it with other shade-loving plants, such as hostas, ferns, and astilbes, to create a dynamic and textured garden.
Thirty (30) plants per flat (or tray). Approximate Plug Measurements: 3 inches deep x 2 inches wide.
Other Details
The most important part of the plant is its root system. Healthy roots are the foundation of a healthy, vibrant plant. The type of plug container used is based on the specific needs of the plants. Perennials offered as bare root traditionally perform better when planted as bare root.Planted in a specialized mix, potted plants have well established root systems. Top growth stage will vary depending on the current life cycle and time of year when shipped. In Winter and early Spring dormant plants may be shipped. Dormant plants may be planted right away, even before the last frost date.
Most bare root varieties are field grown for at least one season, though Hemerocallis and Hosta are grown for two seasons. The bulk of the soil is removed during the harvesting process and the tops of most varieties are trimmed back to the crown. They are graded, packed in shredded aspen or sphagnum moss and stored in freezers until ready to be shipped.
See our Container Sizes and Bare Root Perennials pages for more information.
Plant information and care is provided in the Overview section, Plant Genus Page and general information is provided in the Planting Care & Guides. Additional questions can be asked on each Plant page.
Plant Spacing: Using the maximum mature spread or width of a plant to guide spacing, ensures space to grow to full size. To fill an area sooner, plant them closer together. Just remember, future thinning or transplanting may be needed.
Water: Keep a close eye on newly planted perennials, especially throughout the first growing year. Most early plant loss is due to too much or too little water!
