PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Heartleaf Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)

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Photo by John Kohout

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Heartleaf Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in very rich, well-drained mesic hardwood forests (sometimes with hemlock present). Blooming occurs early-May through early-June, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-June.

Tiarella cordifolia ssp. collina, Tiarella cordifolia var. austrina, Tiarella cordifolia var. bracteata, Tiarella cordifolia var. cordifolia, Tiarella macrophylla, Tiarella wherryi

 
 
 

Hearleaf foamflower is an erect forb, 10-35cm tall, with clawed white petals that are linear to elliptic with 10 stamens. Its fruits are thin-walled, the larger carpal 10mm, the smaller one often only half as long. Its leaves are basal, broadly cordate-ovate to subrotund, shallowly 3-5 lobed, and sparsely hairy, with rounded teeth around the margin. It usually has long stolons.

Although its leaves are similar to Mitella diphylla, Tiarella cordifolia has entire (vs deeply cleft) petals.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs early-May through early-June, fruiting late-June through late-July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-June.

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Betula alleghaniensis, Tilia americana, Tsuga canadensis, Mitella diphylla, Hydrophyllum virginianum, Galium triflorum, Claytonia species, Erythronium species, and Carya cordiformis.

Heartleaf foamflower prefers loamy soil and is found in very rich, well-drained mesic hardwood forests (sometimes with hemlock present).

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

Follow BMPs, especially around streams and use care near ravines, steep slopes, cliffs, rock outcrops, etc.

Buffer management around unique microhabitats such as ephemeral ponds, seeps, etc.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.