Tiarella Mystic Mist

Tiarella 'Mystic Mist' - literally 'Mystic Mist', lives up to its name. This new hybrid variety astonishes and charms with its unique foliage, mysteriously dusted with a white mist. Its evergreen, rounded leaves resemble those of heucheras; their blue-green lamina is also marked by wide dark macules radiating from deep veins of a very dark red-brown. The autumn and winter foliage is irresistible, frosted with white in rose-orange. It is adorned with a beautiful spring flowering, with feathery white to very pale cream spikes. This superb hardy perennial plant spreads laterally to form an excellent groundcover, particularly colourful in damp shade.

Tiarella 'Mystic Mist' belongs to the Saxifragaceae family. This horticultural hybrid is derived from Tiarella cordifolia, among others. It is related to Heucheras with which it readily hybridises. It is native to North American woodlands. It reaches an adult size of about 30 cm (12in) in all directions. This Tiarella forms a spreading clump. Its evergreen foliage is truly remarkable throughout the year. Its palmate and lobed leaves, pale green and entirely speckled with white, measure about 8 cm (3in) in length and are beautifully crinkled and marked with a dark star-shaped central spot that follows the course of its veins. In autumn and winter, the leaves take on fabulous shades of pink and soft orange. These hues are even more pronounced when temperatures drop during winter. In May, individual flowers appear, which are slightly fragrant. They are densely arranged in 'brushes' on stems about 30 cm (12in) in height, and offer a beautiful range from pale cream-white to white, depending on their fading over time. This plant spreads by stolons and can quickly cover a large area. Good soil drainage is necessary as it does not tolerate stagnant moisture in winter.

In the wild, Tiarellas are generally found in wooded or alpine environments, in damp, moist soil. They are therefore a perfect plant for damp woodlands or rockeries. They thrive in the company of ferns, hostas, Impatiens balfourii, Solomon's seals, and astilbes. They can also be used as waterside plants, to accompany Rodgersias, orange Carex testacea in winter. They will also thrive in containers or pots in the shade. They should be planted in a well-drained potting mix with minimal fertilizer, with watering carefully monitored in summer and reduced in winter. Potted plants will need protection from cold winter winds.

Flower buds are formed during the summer, but they will only develop and bloom after being exposed to a minimum of 10 weeks of cold temperatures the following year. Cold is therefore necessary for this perennial to mature.