False Mitrewort

How to grow False Mitrewort

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant in autumn or spring under shrubs or on the shaded side of a border, in soil enriched with leaf mould. It runs gently by surface stolons to make useful groundcover, so plant about 30 cm apart and let it fill in.

Pruning

Remove the spent flower spikes to keep it tidy. Tidy away any scorched or tattered leaves in early spring; the foliage is largely evergreen in mild winters and is best left on over the cold months.

Propagation

Detach rooted runners in spring or early autumn and replant them — this is straightforward and reliable. Clumps can also be divided in spring.

Pests and diseases

Vine weevil grubs can damage the roots of container-grown plants. Slug damage to young foliage is possible but usually light.

Value to wildlife

Early bees and hoverflies visit the flower spikes at a thin time of year for shade-garden nectar.

Notes

It will not tolerate dry shade — the hard, root-filled ground under a mature beech or conifer is the wrong home. Mulch annually with leaf mould to keep it going.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Tiarella cordifolia but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

Others in Tiarella