The Underrated Companion Ground Cover That Looks Gorgeous Next To Bleeding Hearts

Bleeding hearts provide stunning, late-season blooms that add a pop of color to any garden. However, even if you successfully care for your bleeding hearts, after they begin flowering in late spring, their foliage may soon be looking a bit depleted. Luckily, there is an underrated companion ground cover plant that will look great next to your bleeding hearts all season long: foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia). While the foamflower plant is not commonly sought after as a thriving ground cover for your yard because of its slower growth compared to alternatives, it is perfect for filling out the gaps in your bleeding heart foliage.

This non-invasive plant grows in USDA hardiness zones 3 to 8. It reaches between 6 and 12 inches high, giving it enough height to provide quality foliage for your bleeding hearts without taking over the blooms. Foamflower, as the name suggests, does have blooming flowers. They are small white and pink clusters that bloom on a spike just above the foliage. Because they bloom between April and June but retain their leaves all season, they make a perfect companion for bleeding hearts since the two flowers will bloom in succession.

Foamflower makes a good ground cover since it spreads naturally on its own through underground rhizomes, so maintenance is pretty hands-off once the plant is established. It prefers shaded environments, much like the bleeding heart, with moist, well-draining soil. To plant foamflowers, there is no need to start them indoors. Simply plant the seeds directly in the ground 12 to 15 inches away from nearby plants.

The most important consideration for maintaining foamflowers is soil moisture. The plant already has a relatively slow growth rate for a ground cover, and drought conditions will only further slow the growth, if they don't kill the plant completely. If you are experiencing exceptionally dry weather, consider using mulch in your flower bed to help retain moisture. This can also prevent the plant from dying during the winter in colder regions. When the flowers die, you can cut off the spikes to improve the plant's appearance as ground cover foliage.