This native perennial wildflower belongs to the saxifrage family. Sometimes it is called the false miterwort because it somewhat resembles this smaller, but related species. The foamflower has small white flowers that form from pink buds arranged in a somewhat loose and elongated cluster at the end of the flowering stalk. Each flower is only ¼ inch in diameter with 5 petals and 5 sepals along with 10 protruding stamens with reddish or yellow anthers. It is the fine structure of the stamens that resemble foam and are responsible for the common name of the plant. There are 2 pistils unequal in size. The genus name is derived from the Greek word tiara, the name of a turban once worn by Persians. The shape of the pistil resembles this turban. The fruit is in the form of a pair of capsules. When mature they split open along one side.

The plant has basal, stalked, often hairy leaves that are two to four inches long. Each leaf is lobed, sharply toothed and somewhat resembles a maple tree leaf. The leaves often turn reddish bronze in autumn and, during a mild winter may persist until spring. The plant grows 6-12 inches in rich woods. The plant has a scaly, underground rhizomes and seasonal runners that allow it to form colonies that act as forest floor ground cover. As a native plant garden flower, though, it does not spread aggressively. It can grow in dappled sunlight and partial shade.

The natural range of the foamflower is from Minnesota to Nova Scotia and south into the United States as far as Georgia in the mountains.