Heart-leaf Foamflower

Year-round

Heart-leaf Foamflower is a low-care shade groundcover that wants steady moisture and rich, loose soil. It is listed as native to Pennsylvania.

• Plant in part to full shade. Dappled woodland light is ideal.
• Keep the soil evenly moist but well drained. It does not like drying out.
• Humus-rich, slightly acidic to neutral soil works best, so mix in leaf mold or compost.
• It spreads slowly by runners, so give it room or divide it when it gets crowded.

Fall

Fall is a calm time to plant, divide, and let leaves feed the soil.

• Fall is a good time to plant or divide, so roots settle before winter.
• Water new plantings weekly until the ground freezes if rain is light.
• Let fallen leaves sit on the bed as free mulch, but pull off thick mats that smother the plants.

Leaf litter can look messy from the street, so rake it off the front edge and keep the bed outline neat.

Winter

Winter is a rest period. The plant is hardy here and needs very little.

• It is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 8, so Lancaster winters are fine.
• Leaves may look worn or die back. Leave them until spring.
• Skip fertilizer and heavy watering. Just make sure fall plantings did not heave out of the ground in freeze and thaw, and press them back in.

Spring

Spring is bloom time and the best moment to tidy and feed the bed.

• Trim off any tattered winter leaves as new growth starts. Fresh leaves fill in quickly.
• Enjoy the spikes of white to pinkish flowers, which open from about April into June.
• Water during dry spells so the soil stays damp, especially for new plantings.
• Spring is a good time to divide crowded clumps and replant pieces about a foot apart.

Summer

Summer is about moisture and shade. Dry soil is the main thing that stresses this plant.

• Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry. Lancaster summers can be hot and dry.
• Keep it out of afternoon sun, which can scorch the leaves.
• Add a thin layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch to hold moisture.
• Look for notched leaf edges, which can mean black vine weevil. Handpick adults at dusk if you see them.