Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Silver Falls ™ Dichondra micrantha . pic : Proven Winners
Dichondrais an ornamental perennial with a vining or go around habit that is turn for the attractive foliage . aboriginal to the Americas , Asia , and Australia , this cockcrow glory congener produces creeping stems and roots well from the leaf nodes , make it suited as a quick - growing ground cover charge .
BecauseDichondrahas a dim carpeting - corresponding show and vigorous emergence drug abuse , it can be used as a lawn alternative in warmer mood . The cascade use ofDichondra argenteais versatile in container and hanging baskets , along rock’n’roll wall , as edging , or inrock gardens . Here ’s how to growDichondraand habituate it in your landscape painting .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care|Varieties|Frequently Asked Questions|Landscaping Ideas
On this page :
DICHONDRA BASICS
Botanical name:
Dichondraspp .
Plant type:
Tender perennial , often produce as an yearly
Zones:
7 - 12 , depending on the smorgasbord
Exposure:
Full Sunday to partial shade
Habit:
Vining , trailing , or spreading habit . Plants have shallow roots and make a impenetrable mat .
Height/Spread:
2 to 4 column inch tall , 3 to 6 feet all-inclusive
Bloom time:
Early summer
Flowers:
Small , greenish - yellow or white , star - form bloom are insignificant and often hidden beneath the foliage .
Foliage:
Small , 1/2- to 1 - in greenish or silver leafage are rounded , kidney - shaped , or fan - shape , with a fluid or scalloped edge .
HOW TO PLANT DICHONDRA
When to plant:
Dichondracan be grown from seeds or starting . works in late outflow when nighttime temperatures are 50 arcdegree or warmer and daytime temperature are in the 70s . In warmer climates , it can also be planted in former fall .
Where to plant:
pick out a site with full sun to fond spook and rich , well - drain soil .
How to plant:
Loosen stain in the planting area and amend with compost or other rich organic matter , if needed . Dig a hole slightly across-the-board and the same deepness as the source ball . take flora from the baby’s room container and tantalise out roots if potbound . Place in the muddle so the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding soil . Fill in the hole with soil , tamp down softly and water system thoroughly to remove air pouch . Space plant 3 feet or more aside .
Planting from seed:
Press seeds mildly into the ground but do n’t cover , as they call for brightness to bourgeon . Keep evenly moist until germination in about two weeks . slight seedling to 6 inches apart .
DICHONDRA CARE
See this container recipe . Photo : Proven Winners
Soil:
Dichondracan tolerate poor soils but performs best in rich , well - draining grime with a neutral pH of 6.5 to 7.5 . annul planting in clay or other poorly draining ground to prevent root rot . For container , use a high - calibre , all - function potting mix .
Amendments & fertilizer:
Dichondraneeds little or no supplementary fertilizer . If desired , apply a deadening - release all - determination fertilizer according to instructions in springiness when Modern emergence appear . A slender layer of compost can be placed around the theme of the plant to put up nutrients , suppress weeds , and keep back moisture .
Watering:
Dichondraprefers evenly moist to slimly dry grime . industrial plant are somewhat drouth tolerant once show . Avoid overwatering to prevent fungal disease or root word rot . Container specimens dry out out more rapidly than those in the dry land and will need more frequent watering .
Pruning:
When arise as a primer cover , Dichondracan be mowed to 2 inches high for a neat appearance . Container specimens can be thinly shave as needed to retain the desire flesh and size .
Pests and diseases:
When given optimal farm conditions , dichondra is more tolerant to pests and diseases . Pests includeaphids , cutworm , flea beetles , mite , whitefly , slugs , and snails . Diseases admit folio spot , powdery mold , pythium blight , ancestor bunkum , or rust fungus .
DICHONDRA VARIETIES
Photo by : Proven Winners .
SILVER FALLS ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersDichondra argentea
Zones:10 - 12Habit : Trailing habitHeight / Spread:2 to 6 inches marvellous , up to 48 inches longBloom sentence : former summertime
Also known as ash gray nickel vine or silver ponysfoot , this kind can be found growing natively in office of the southerly U.S. , Mexico , Central America , and South America . Grown for the silvery lover - shaped leaf and elegant cascade drug abuse , Silver Falls ™ is commonly used for hanging baskets , containers , and as edging . Allow to disgorge over rock walls or add to a rock garden . Plant in full sun for best coloring .
Photo : Simona Pavan / Shutterstock
KIDNEY WEEDDichondra repenssyn . D. micrantha
Zones:7 - 11Habit : Creeping spreading habitHeight / Spread:2 inches tall , up to 36 inch wideBloom time : Summer ; flowers are insignificant
aboriginal to Australia and New Zealand , kidney weed is a perennial herb that produces green kidney - shaped leaves on vigorous plants . Also know as lawn leaf , this rapid spreader is utilitarian as a lawn substitute where traditional lawns fail to thrive , though it can only tolerate light foot dealings . It is view as a lawn weed in California .
Photo : Evannovostro / Shutterstock
CAROLINA PONYSFOOTDichodra carolinensis
Zones:8 - 11Habit : crawl distribute habitHeight / Spread:1 to 3 inches improbable , 36 inch wideBloom prison term : Summer
Carolina ponysfoot is aboriginal to the southeastern U.S. , where it can be found grow in moist floodplains and disturbed sites . Plants have green kidney - shaped leafage and a creeping habit . This rapid broadcaster is utilitarian for quickly covering magnanimous areas . The foliage is eatable , either bare-ass or ready , is used as a culinary herbaceous plant , and can be dry for tea .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
IsDichondradeer resistant?
Dichondra is see cervid resistant , though deer may browse on plants if other food for thought source are scarce .
IsDichondrapoisonous?
Dichondrais look at toxic or mildly toxic ( information is motley ) to pet or fry . Some soft abdomen distress may occur if plants are absorb .
IsDichondrainvasive?
BecauseDichondragrows vigorously , it may have trespassing qualities in some areas . Keep plant pruned back as needed to control increase .
IsDichondraa good ground cover?
Dichondra is utile for quickly cover large areas , making it an effective primer covering fire .
DoesDichondracome back every year?
In USDA geographical zone 10 - 12,Dichondracan be grown as a perennial . Silver Falls ™ is less hardy and is most usually grown as an annual .
WillDichondrachoke out grass?
Dichondracan establish itself in turf lawns where there are stark spots , and can be difficult to eradicate . Healthy lawn with dense , plush growth are less susceptible .
CanDichondrasurvive winter?
Kidney sess and Carolina ponysfoot can winter from twelvemonth to year in milder mood . Silver ponysfoot is grown as an annual in all but the warm regions .
DICHONDRA LANDSCAPING TIPS
Photo : Proven success
For borders and landscapes:
apply as a lawn alternative , in aggregative planting , rock gardens , as a ground cover or edge .
For slopes and hillsides:
Sow Dichondra micrantha germ and allow to naturalise along a slope . Mass plant starts or carve up established plants to cover a side or hillside .
For containers:
flora in a hang basketful , window box seat , or container , by itself or in combination with other flora with standardized growing needs .
There are many ways to useDichondrain your landscape . Here ’s how :
Companion plant : With its achromatic green or silvern tones , Dichondrapairs well with most other colors . conflate in a container or border withalyssum , angelonia , begonia , coleus , coral Melville Bell , fuchsia , lobelia , lantana , calibrachoa , petunia , phlox , salviaorverbena .
