How to Plant and Grow Foamy Bells
This cross between coral bells and foamflower combines the best of both plants.
Foamy bells is a cross between coral bells (Heuchera) and foamflower (Tiarella). Although the common name points to its pretty flower wands, low-growing foamy bells is most commonly grown for its foliage—handsome clumps of leaves that are broad-lobed, distinctively veined, and colorful. The hues include bronze, lime green, dark green, purple, and orange-pink. The speckled, mottled, and multicolor rounded leaves lend this low-growing plant enchanting color and texture. This hybrid perennial has short delicate sprays of white or pink star-shaped flowers rising on slender stems from spring to fall.
Where to Plant Foamy Bells
Pick a location in partial sun with well-drained, rich soil and neutral pH.
Wherever you plant foamy bells, they are best planted in small groups. Planted in a rock garden, they soften angular lines and hard textures. Along a walkway or a patio, they will create a fringelike foliage border. Use them to blanket the ground between tall perennials or add their color and texture to the dappled shade of a woodland border. Because of their compact size, they are also a good choice for pots and window boxes.
How and When to Plant Foamy Bells
Plant foamy bells in the spring or early summer so they have all season to get their roots established. Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the pot and about the same depth. Place the plant in the hole and fill in original soil to the top of the root ball. Gently tamp down the soil. Water plants deeply after planting and continue to water regularly throughout the growing season.
Space the plants 16 to 20 inches apart.
Foamy Bells Care Tips
Once the plants are established, which takes a full growing season, these are low-maintenance perennials.
Light
Generally foamy bells should be grown in partial shade. The amount of sun they can tolerate depends on the location. In a northern climate, they can do well even in full sun whereas in southern climates, they require shade, especially during the afternoon hours. The amount of light foamy bells can tolerate also depends on the foliage. Varieties with darker foliage can withstand more sunlight than varieties with vivid light colors. Too much sunlight leads to leaf scorch.
Soil and Water
Foamy bells grow best in humus-rich, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and a pH between 6.0 and 8.0.
The higher the sun exposure, the more water the plants need. Dry sites result in leaf scorch. Blanket the ground around plants with a 2-inch-thick layer of shredded bark mulch to prevent soil moisture loss.
Temperature and Humidity
Foamy bells are fairly cold-hardy, but they are prone to root heaving during freeze-thaw cycles. This can be prevented by adding a thick layer of mulch for winter protection. The plants are fairly tolerant of heat and humidity.
Fertilizer
If foamy bells were planted in fertile soil rich in organic matter, they won’t need much fertilizer. At the most, apply a slow-release granular fertilizer, following product label instructions, or scatter some compost around the plants in the spring as the new growth starts.
Pruning
After the plants bloom in early summer, remove spent flower stalks at the base of the plant to encourage another round of flowering. In the early spring, remove all dead foliage to make room for new growth.
Potting and Repotting Foamy Bells
Foamy bells make good container plants. Use a pot with large drainage holes and fill it with a combination of well-draining potting mix and compost. Keep in mind that container plants require more frequent watering and fertilization than plants in the landscape.
While foamy bells are winter-hardy to Zone 4, containers expose their roots to the cold. To winterize the pots, insulate them by sinking the container in the ground or by placing it in a second, larger pot to create a planting silo.
Repot the plants to a larger pot with fresh potting mix and compost when the root system has reached the sides of the container, or the roots grow out of the drainages holes.
Pests and Problems
Foamy bells have no serious pest or disease problems. Some varieties are prone to get rust, a fungus. Root weevils are potential pests.
Frost heave is a common issue with foamy bells. It is aggravated in areas with poorly draining soil so make sure you plant foamy bells where there is excellent drainage also in the winter. Overwatering can lead to root rot.
How to Propagate Foamy Bells
The plants can be propagated by division, which they require every three years to keep the plants vigorous. As foamy bells is a hybrid, propagating it from seed won’t produce plants true to type.
Divide the plants in the spring to give them a full growing season to get established. Lift the mature plant with all its roots out of the ground with a shovel. Remove small, healthy-looking sections from around the edges of the clump. Discard the woody core of the clump. Plant the sections in new locations at the same depth as the old plant and keep them well-watered for the first growing season.
Types of Foamy Bells
'Sweet Tea’
This variety has apricot-orange leaves with burgundy veins and white flowers in late spring to midsummer.
'Solar Eclipse’
A compact variety that stands out by its striking foliage, ‘Solar Eclipse’ has reddish-brown, broadly scalloped leaves with a lime green border.
‘Pink Revolution’
In the late spring, this variety is covered with masses of bubblegum pink blooms. The leaves are bright green with burgundy veins.
‘Pink Fizz’
Both the foliage and the flowers of this variety are eye-catching. The soft green variegated foliage has purple leaf veins, and the bell-shaped, frilly pink flowers grow in dense clusters on slender stems.
‘Gold Zebra’
The main attraction of this variety is the bright yellow, feathery leaves with dark red centers. The flowers are small and white.
Foamy Bells Companion Plants
Wood Fern
Wood fern, also known as shield fern and buckler fern, is a tough, adaptable, medium-sized woodland fern with a bold texture, comprising more than 200 species. Unlike other ferns, which can be finicky, wood ferns are sturdy, strong, and easy to grow, and they require little maintenance. Zone 3-9
Lungwort
In early spring, the brilliant blue, pink, or white flowers of lungwort bloom despite the coldest chill. The rough basal leaves, spotted or plain, are handsome through the season and into winter. Lungworts are workhorses and retain their good looks, placed close as a weed-discouraging groundcover or in borders as edgings or bright accent plants. Provide high-humus soil that retains moisture. Lungwort tolerates dry conditions. Zone 2-8
Woodland Phlox
Phlox divaricata is a low-growing, shade-loving wildflower that is native to eastern North America. In the spring, the 1-foot plants have fragrant, lavender-purple flowers. Woodland phlox spreads to form mats of foliage. Zones 4-8
Garden Plan for Foamy Bells
No Fuss Shade Garden Plan
This no-fuss shade garden plan features several of these plants that will add bright blooms and lush foliage without requiring much care from you. To assemble this garden, start from the back edge and move forward. Elegant bleeding hearts and bold hostas create the first layer, followed by hellebores and foamy bells.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do foamy bells live?
They are short-lived perennials with a lifespan of about 4 to 5 years at the maximum but after 3 years, they often turn woody in the center. By dividing them, you ensure a constant presence of these striking perennials in your yard.
Should foamy bells be cut back in the fall?
Cutting the plants back in the fall is not recommended, as the foliage protects the crown during the winter. Wait until spring to remove the old foliage.
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