Product Field NotesCompanion Plants
Shadow Tag Foamy Bells: Silver-and-Burgundy Leaves for Shade
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Shadow Tag foamy bells is a foliage plant first. Its lobed, maple-like leaves are green under a silvery overlay, with dark burgundy blotches in the center that bleed outward along the veins, and that pattern stays rich right to the end of the season. In late spring, frothy sprays of bubblegum pink flowers mound just above the leaves.
It is a cross between coral bells and foamflower, and like both parents it prefers shade and even moisture. That means it lives in a different bed than your lavender.
Shadow Tag at a glance
| Trait | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | × Heucherella 'Shadow Tag' |
| Foliage | Green with a silvery overlay and dark burgundy centers |
| Flowers | Bubblegum pink, frothy sprays |
| Size | 10 to 12 inches tall, 16 to 18 inches wide |
| Bloom | Mid to late May |
| Hardiness | USDA zones 4 to 9 |
| Light | Tolerates sun to full shade; best in part shade |
| Wildlife | Moderately deer resistant |
Its place in a lavender garden plan
Lavender takes the hottest, driest, sunniest ground you have. Shadow Tag takes the cooler spots: the bed under a maple, the north side of a porch, a shaded walkway. Its silvery leaves echo lavender's gray foliage, so even though the two never touch, the garden reads as one design. Plant it with ferns, hostas and other woodland plants for contrast in leaf shape.
It is bred for better heat and sun tolerance than typical foamy bells, but leaf color is still best with filtered sun or afternoon shade in hot summers. Use the Companion Plant Planner to sort plants by sun and shade before you order.
Care notes
- Soil: average to fertile, well drained and evenly moist. Do not let the crown sit wet.
- After bloom: shear off spent flower stems to keep the foliage neat.
- Humidity: handles humid summers well with good airflow.
- Winter: hardy in Michigan in well-drained soil and semi-evergreen in milder winters. Mulch lightly after the ground freezes to prevent heaving.
- Spring: trim away leaves damaged over winter as new growth starts.
Edging, containers and cutting
At about a foot tall, it is a tidy edger for a shade border and a reliable filler in shaded containers. Both the flowers and the leaves can be cut for small arrangements; a few patterned leaves tucked under cut flowers make a nice collar in a vase.
Two tray sizes
Shadow Tag is offered as a 72-cell plug tray and a 20-cell plug tray. The 72-cell tray suits growers and large shade plantings, while the 20-cell tray offers fewer, larger plugs. See each product page for current availability.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between foamy bells and coral bells?
Foamy bells is a cross of coral bells and foamflower. It tends to have lobed, patterned leaves and frothy flower sprays.
Can I plant it with lavender?
Not in the same bed. Lavender wants dry, sunny ground, while Shadow Tag wants even moisture and some shade.
Is it evergreen?
Semi-evergreen. In hard winters the leaves may brown and are trimmed off in spring.
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