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Tiarella cordifolia

Heartleaf Foamflower · False Miterwort · Coolwort

Family SaxifragaceaeGenus Tiarella

Spikes of feathery white flowers on upright stems above lobed leaves, spread across a shaded woodland floor.
The whole plantCbaile19CC0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Ground Cover, Herbaceous Perennial, WildflowerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
perennialPlants of the World Online
Height
0.4-1 ft10-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
1-1.5 ft30-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Deep shade; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
High Organic MatterExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Gibberellic acid soak

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

75% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Tiarella (Saxifragaceae). In the two species studied germination, required light and DS was fatal. T. cordifolia germ. 70L(67% in 3-7 w), 70D GA-3(75% in 2-4 w), 40-70L(74% in 2-7 w), and none in 700 or 40-70D. The seedlings from GA-3 treatment all died. Seed DS 6m at 70 was dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around November 17, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 49 days.

74% germination in 14–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Tiarella (Saxifragaceae). In the two species studied germination, required light and DS was fatal. T. cordifolia germ. 70L(67% in 3-7 w), 70D GA-3(75% in 2-4 w), 40-70L(74% in 2-7 w), and none in 700 or 40-70D. The seedlings from GA-3 treatment all died. Seed DS 6m at 70 was dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 49 days to germinate.

67% germination in 21–49 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221Public domain
Show the original text
Tiarella (Saxifragaceae). In the two species studied germination, required light and DS was fatal. T. cordifolia germ. 70L(67% in 3-7 w), 70D GA-3(75% in 2-4 w), 40-70L(74% in 2-7 w), and none in 700 or 40-70D. The seedlings from GA-3 treatment all died. Seed DS 6m at 70 was dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Tiarella p. 221. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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