Tiarellas, commonly known as foamflowers, have come a long way since our parents and grandparents grew them.  The flowers held above the foliage on tall, stiff stems are a bonus; the leaves cause a stir in the garden.  They are bred and hybridized to produce finely cut leaves with either deep splotches or silver tracings.

Tiarella 'Seafoam' and 'Pirates Patch' have green leaves with center splotches.  Tiarella 'Black Snowflake' leaves emerge almost black and are deeply cut, like its namesake.  Tiarella 'Stargazer Mercury' is a tiny treasure.  It has an elongated center leaflet, green with a deep burgundy center patch and creamy pink flowers.  Tiarella 'Heronswood Mist' is a stunning plant in spring.  Foamy white flowers, tipped in pink, stand straight above pale green foliage, speckled with cream.  This outstanding color display is set off with deep pink midribs in the leaves.

Foamflowers do exceptionally well in pots, where they can be seen close up.  Give them light shade and moderate moisture in woodsy soil.

Toad lilies (Tricyrtis) will fill a void in the fall shade garden.  Site them next to a path so that their petitie flowers will catch the eye of passers-by.  Give them a humus-rich, moist soil in semi-shade and they will reward you with small, orchid-like flowers, a welcome addition when other plants have bloomed out.  Unfortunately, if rain is insufficient or they get too much sun, the foliage crisps up on the edges, leaving a haggard looking plant.  Pulll out the hose during dry weather.  If they are given plenty to drink in the summer, they will be a star in the fall garden.

Athyrium pictum, Japanese Painted Fern, is a small fern of many colors.  It is often clothed in silver and burgundy, a most handsome combination.  You might even find offspring with differing color palettes in your garden.  'Ursula's Red' Japanese Painted Fern was found by South Carolina plantswoman, Ursula Herz.  It has silver leaves with burgundy red down the center  Many of today's painted ferns are full of silver.  Try 'Pewter Lace' or 'Silver Falls' for a sterling performance.

Torenia fournieri, commonly called Wishbone Flower, is an outstanding annual that is heat and humidity tolerant and comes up blooming.  It is an ever-flowering, low-growing alternative to impatiens for the shade.  It has something impatiens cannot offer, a blue flowered form, as well as being more drought tolerant.  Two of my favorites are the new-ish, large flowered torenias 'Summer Wave Amethyst' and 'Blue Moon.'  They blossom in spring chills and summer heat.  Not only will they brighten the shade garden, they can also be used in sun.  Try them in your own tough garden spots.  A summer walk in a shade garden can be a cooling, calming, blooming experience.

---Posted by Anne K. Moore, April 22, 2007---