Brass buttons

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; provide afternoon shade in hot climates.

Water

Keep evenly moist, especially during establishment and hot weather; avoid prolonged drought and waterlogged soil.

Soil

Moist, well-drained soil with some organic matter; tolerates sandy or loamy soils if they do not dry out.

Height

0.08-0.17 ft (0.025-0.05 m)

Spread

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m), spreading farther over time by creeping stems

Flowers

Late spring to summer; tiny yellow-green to brassy yellow button-shaped flower heads.

Foliage

Evergreen. Small, finely divided, fern-like leaves, usually green with bronze or purplish tones. Dark-leaved selections are also grown.

Growth

Moderate to fast in cool, moist conditions

Care needed

Low

• Cold hardy
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

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

1. Planting day

   0 ft (0.01 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.1 ft (0.03 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.1 ft (0.04 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 regularly during the first growing season so the shallow roots do not dry out.
• During dry spells, water before the mat becomes crisp or starts to shrink.
• Work a little compost into poor soil before planting; established plants rarely need additional feeding.
• Keep thick mulch off the foliage and creeping stems.
• Divide crowded mats or rooted edges in spring to fill gaps and renew thin patches.
• Keep regular foot traffic on stepping stones rather than on the plants.

Pruning. In spring, gently remove dead or winter-damaged foliage without pulling up the shallow roots. Trim or lift rooted stems whenever they creep beyond the intended area; mowing is unnecessary.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged foliage and check that water is draining away from the mat.

Spring

Plant or divide rooted sections, then water them regularly until established.

Late spring

Remove weeds by hand before they become tangled in the spreading stems.

Summer

Water during dry weather and watch exposed edges for scorching.

Early autumn

Trim spreading edges and replant rooted pieces into bare patches while conditions are mild.

Winter

Keep fallen leaves from smothering the mat and avoid walking on frozen or saturated plants.

• Fill gaps between widely spaced stepping stones on lightly used paths.
• Edge small beds with a low, finely textured carpet.
• Plant beneath dwarf shrubs where there is enough light and little root competition.
• Combine with small ferns and mossy stones in a cool, moist courtyard.
• Use in a moist rock garden with sharp drainage, away from drought-loving alpine plants.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Woodland, Moss and fern garden, Modern courtyard, Small-space and Pacific Northwest woodland.

Plant it with: Dwarf hostas, Japanese painted fern, Dwarf mondo grass, Siberian bugloss and Primroses.

Wildlife: The small flowers may be visited by small insects, but this is not a major nectar plant. Its low mat provides shelter for small ground-dwelling invertebrates.

• Drought or hot sun can turn the mat brown and leave bare patches; water deeply, provide afternoon shade and replant rooted sections once conditions improve.
• Waterlogged soil can cause rotting and winter losses; improve drainage or move the plant to a slightly raised position.
• Slugs and snails may damage tender growth; remove hiding places, hand-pick at dusk or use a labelled iron-phosphate bait.
• Frequent foot traffic crushes the shallow-rooted mat; add stepping stones and allow damaged areas to regrow.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific safety information is limited, so no particular part can be declared proven safe to eat; it is not a food plant.

• Silver brass buttons (Cotula hispida)

  Has conspicuously silvery, hairy foliage rather than the flatter green or bronze leaves of Leptinella squalida, and generally prefers drier conditions.

• Irish moss (Sagina subulata)

  Forms a similar low carpet but has tiny, narrow, undivided leaves and white star-shaped flowers rather than fern-like leaves and yellowish buttons.

The common name refers to the small, rounded, brassy yellow flower heads.

Propagation. Divide in spring or early autumn, lifting small sections with roots attached and replanting promptly. Rooted pieces of creeping stem establish readily if kept moist. Propagate named selections by division to preserve their foliage characteristics.

Accepted botanical name

Leptinella squalida

Native range

Chatham Is., New Zealand North and New Zealand South.

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