Data provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria

View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora

Tiarella trifoliata, commonly called threeleaf foamflower, laceflower, or sugar-scoop, is a dicot in the family Saxifragaceae. It is native to the low to moderate elevation moist forests of western North America, from northern California to Montana and western Canada. Tiarella trifoliata is a perennial herb that grows in the late spring. The flowers are bell-shaped, white, solitary from an elongate, leafless panicle. The calyx lobes are 1. 5-2. 5 mm and petals are 3-4 mm. Basal leaves are 15-80 mm long and up to 120 mm wide, trifoliate or palmately 3- to 5-lobed. Cauline leaves are infrequent and much smaller. Varieties: There are three varieties of T. trifoliata:T. trifoliata var. trifoliata, which has leaves that are irregularly lobed, with coarse teeth. T. trifoliata var. unifoliata, which has simple leaves. T. trifoliata var. laciniata, which is confined in its range from Washington only as far north as Vancouver Island, and has deeply lobed leaves.

Plant type

Perennial herb

Size

6 - 8 in Tall

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Color

White

Flowering season

Summer

Special uses

Containers, Groundcover, Lawn alternative

Sun

Deep Shade, Partial Shade

Water

Moderate, High

Ease of care

Moderate

Plant communities

Wetland-Riparian