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First Impression: Heart shaped foliage with burgundy centers sitting below small towers of pinkish-white flowers, Tiarella ‘Brandywine’ is an impressive addition to any shade garden and to containers.

Habitat & Hardiness: Tiarella ‘Brandywine’ is a selection that is not found in the wild but it is hardy in USDA zones 4-9.

Plant Description: Introduced by Sinclair Adam of Dunvegan Nursery, Tiarella cordifolia ‘Brandywine’ is rated as one of the most vigorous of the genus. Starting it’s journey in early spring once the temperatures begin to warm, Tiarella ‘Brandywine’ is a spring show. Beginning it’s push of heart shaped foliage with large serrations along its edges they will develop a wonderful burgundy color to centers. ‘Brandywine will begin to form its mound while starting so send out its runners to expand into what becomes an up to two foot mound of lush foliage.

In late April to early May, racemes will rise from the mound mostly around the center to give way to an airy plum of pinkish-white flowers that continue to bloom for 8-10 weeks. If you use the flowers for cut/dried flowers, there is a good chance that the plant will rebloom though it may not be as vigorous the second time around. Once blooming is done the flowers will make their change into seed heads filled with small black seeds that wildlife will happily eat to spread the plant.

Come the fall and winter time the foliage color will begin to dull out and eventually brown over leaving some semi evergreen foliage under what has died out. This dead foliage can be cleaned off by pruning once the last frost has past so that the new foliage does not get burnt. 

Cultural & Maintenance Needs: Tiarella ‘Brandywine’ flourishes in shady sites with average or moist well drained soil.  Plants tolerate clay, loam, acid or alkaline pH, heat and some drought. Plants are fairly pest resistant but need good air circulation to prevent issues with powdery mildew, slugs and rust. Foliage is occasionally nibbled by deer.

This species grows best in soils that are rich and moisture retentive but cannot tolerate sites that are wet or soggy in winter.

Landscape Uses: This is a good groundcover for a wildlife garden or shade garden. Plants are also used as butterfly nectar plants or as part of a grouping or mass planting. In mild climates attractive rosettes provide winter interest. Tiarella ‘Brandywine’ has showy blooms and is appropriate for cottage gardens, rock gardens, low maintenance plantings and perennial borders.

COMPANION & UNDERSTUDY PLANTS:  Try pairing Tiarella cordifolia with Adiantum pedatum, Aquilegia canadensis, Athyrium filix-femina, Carex albicans, Carex plantaginea, Heuchera americana ‘Dales Strain’, Phlox stolonifera or Polystichum acrostichoides.

Tiarella wherryi has similar appearance and culture and could be substituted in some situations.