Baby's tears

Sun

Partial shade or bright, indirect light; tolerates deeper shade. Protect from strong afternoon sun, especially in hot climates.

Water

Keep the root zone consistently moist but not waterlogged. Its shallow roots dry out quickly, particularly in containers.

Soil

Humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage; tolerates a range of soil pH.

Height

0.1-0.3 ft (0.03-0.09 m)

Spread

1-3 ft (0.3-0.9 m), eventually wider where conditions suit

Foliage

Evergreen. Tiny, rounded, bright green leaves on fine creeping stems that root where they touch moist soil.

Growth

Fast in moist, mild conditions

Care needed

Medium

• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Moderate

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0 ft (0.02 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.1 ft (0.04 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

   full size

About 2 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

In the garden

Spreads vigorously: plan to contain it.

Growth rate

Fast

• Water before the surface dries completely; check pots frequently during warm weather.
• Improve poor soil with compost, but avoid sites that remain saturated.
• Give container plants a dilute balanced liquid feed monthly during active growth; established garden patches usually need little feeding.
• Lift spreading edges regularly to keep stems out of neighbouring pots, lawns and small plants.
• Keep containers frost-free in cold regions; outdoor foliage may die back after frost even where the roots survive.

Pruning. Trim or lift unwanted growth during the growing season to keep the patch within bounds. Remove frost-damaged or brown growth in spring once fresh shoots appear.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged growth and check whether outdoor patches have survived.

Mid-spring

Plant or divide into moist, prepared soil once severe frost has passed.

Late spring

Begin light feeding of container plants and trim spreading edges.

Summer

Check moisture frequently and protect plants from hot afternoon sun.

Autumn

Lift unwanted runners and bring pots under cover before frost in cold regions.

Winter

Keep sheltered pots lightly moist, with less watering as growth slows.

• Carpet moist, shaded ground beneath ferns and larger shade plants, keeping it away from small, slow-growing specimens.
• Soften the edges of shaded paving where foot traffic is light.
• Trail over the rims of pots containing moisture-loving plants.
• Create a fine-textured green surface in sheltered courtyard or moss-style gardens.

Garden styles it suits: Woodland, Moss and fern garden, Modern courtyard, Japanese, Green on green and Small-space.

Plant it with: Japanese painted fern, Hart's tongue fern, Hosta, Astilbe, Rodgersia and Japanese forest grass.

Wildlife: The dense mat provides shelter for small invertebrates, but its tiny flowers offer little conspicuous value for pollinators. It does not tolerate regular foot traffic.

• Brown, crisp patches usually indicate drying out or hot sun: water thoroughly and provide more shade.
• Yellowing or collapsing growth can follow waterlogging and root rot: improve drainage and let excess water escape from pots.
• Slugs and snails may damage tender growth: inspect damp hiding places and use wildlife-conscious controls where needed.
• Unwanted spread can smother small plants: lift rooted stems promptly and contain it in pots where necessary.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people; no part is recognised as poisonous. It is an ornamental plant, not a food crop.

Where it spreads. Can spread aggressively in mild, damp gardens in the UK and Ireland, coastal California, New Zealand and temperate parts of Australia. Rooted stem fragments establish readily; keep it away from natural vegetation and do not dump garden waste.

• Irish moss (Sagina subulata)

  Has narrow, needle-like leaves and visible white, star-shaped flowers rather than rounded leaves on trailing stems.

• Corsican mint (Mentha requienii)

  Also forms a tiny-leaved carpet, but its leaves release a strong mint scent when gently rubbed.

• Creeping pilea (Pilea depressa)

  Often sold under similar common names; its leaves are generally larger and thicker, with more noticeably scalloped edges.

The botanical name honours Joseph-François Soleirol, who collected plants in Corsica, while baby's tears refers to the tiny, rounded leaves.

Propagation. Divide rooted patches in spring or early summer and replant immediately into moist soil or potting mix. Small pieces of rooted stem also establish readily if kept shaded and consistently moist.

Accepted botanical name

Soleirolia soleirolii

In the US and Canada

Introduced in the lower 48 states.

Native range

Baleares, Corse, Italy and Sardegna.

Measured

Soil pH 6.5 to 7. Average height 9 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.