Common Name: dichondra
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Convolvulaceae
Zone: 10 to 12
Height: 0.00 to 0.25 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: May to June
Bloom Description: Greenish-yellow to white
Sun: Full sun
Water: Dry to medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual, Ground Cover
Flower: Insignificant
Leaf: Colorful, Evergreen
Tolerate: Drought
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 10. In most of the U. S. including St. Louis, it is grown as an annual. It is easily grown in dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates some light shade. Also tolerates heat and drought. Grows well in sandy loams with good drainage. Soil drainage is particularly important if plants are grown as a ground cover. ‘Silver Falls’ may be purchased in spring from nurseries as bedding plants or may be grown from seed.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Dichondra argentea, commonly called silver ponysfoot or silver nickel vine, is a creeping/trailing evergreen perennial that is native to desert regions in western Texas, New Mexico, southeastern Arizona and northern Mexico.
Genus name comes from the Greek words di meaning two and chondros meaning lump in reference to the fruit having two capsules.
Specific epithet means silvered.
‘Silver Falls’ is a cultivar that is grown in St. Louis as an ornamental annual foliage plant. It is best grown in baskets/containers or as a seasonal ground cover. From a hanging basket, it will cascade downwards to 3-6’ long in one season. As a ground cover, plants only rise to 2-4” tall, but spread rapidly by stems rooting at the nodes to 3-4’ wide in one season. Branching silver stems are clad with soft, rounded, fan-shaped, silver leaves (to 1” across). Foliage is often described as having a metallic appearance. Tiny greenish-yellow to white spring flowers are not showy.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems.
Uses
Annual accent plant for hanging baskets, window boxes or containers. Effective along rock walls where it can cascade downward. Ground cover.