Plant Primer | Dichondra Silver Falls

Light: full sun

Height: 2 to 3 inches

Spread: 3 to 4 feet

USDA Hardiness Zones: 9 to 12

Origin: Texas and Mexico

A wonderful color and texture plant for containers is the Dichondra Silver Falls (Dichondra argentea “Silver Falls”).

This trailing beauty has a small, reniform-shaped (kidney or rounded-heart shape with a cordate base), nickel-sized leaves. The silver-green leaves are soft to the touch.

The stem is multi-branched and silver in color.

Small, greenish-white inconspicuous flowers appear in the spring, but don’t offer much of a show. If not trailing over the edge of a container, roots will form along the stem.

Dichondra Silver Falls is a great addition to container gardens, hanging baskets or tumbling over a stone wall. This plant grows quickly 3 to 6 feet in a summer and is tolerant of drought.

Try mixing Dichondra Silver Falls with pink, purple or white petunias, angelonia or even begonias.

See Dichondra Silver Falls in containers at Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Barbara Arnold

Franklin Park Conservatory