Dymondia

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade, but growth is less dense.

Water

Water regularly while establishing, then deeply but infrequently. Established plants tolerate dry periods, although prolonged drought can cause leaves to curl and growth to stall.

Soil

Well-drained sandy or gritty soil; tolerates poorer soils but struggles in waterlogged ground, especially in winter.

Height

0.1-0.25 ft (0.03-0.08 m)

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m), gradually spreading farther where conditions suit it

Flowers

Small yellow daisy flowers in late spring and summer, sometimes continuing into autumn in mild climates.

Foliage

Evergreen. Narrow, slightly curled green leaves with white, felted undersides; the exposed pale edges create a silvery carpet.

Growth

Slow to moderate; faster with warmth and adequate establishment watering.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Low allergen

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

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

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

   0.2 ft (0.05 m)

4. After 3 years

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

   full size

About 3 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

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water new plants whenever the root zone starts to dry; reduce watering gradually as they root into the surrounding soil.
• Plant in free-draining ground, using a raised bed where winter drainage is poor.
• Remove weeds before planting and hand-weed gaps until the carpet closes.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak; avoid heavy lawn fertilisers.
• Keep foot traffic off new plantings and use stepping stones on regularly travelled routes.

Pruning. No routine mowing or pruning is needed. In spring, remove dead or frost-damaged patches and trim spreading edges back from paving as necessary.

Spring

After frost risk has passed, plant rooted plugs or divisions into prepared, weed-free soil.

Late spring

Check gaps for weeds and water new plants thoroughly when the root zone begins to dry.

Summer

Give established carpets occasional deep watering during prolonged dry weather; avoid frequent shallow sprinkling.

Early autumn

In mild, frost-free areas, plant or divide while the soil is still warm.

Late autumn

Clear fallen leaves from the carpet and check that water drains away freely.

Winter

Avoid walking on frozen or saturated plants; protect small plantings with horticultural fleece during brief freezes.

• Plant between widely spaced paving stones to soften hard surfaces without hiding the paving.
• Use as a small lawn substitute in sunny spaces with only occasional foot traffic.
• Edge gravel paths with a low silver-green carpet beside lavender or other dry-garden plants.
• Mass beneath widely spaced architectural plants, keeping it outside their crowded crowns.

Garden styles it suits: Modern Mediterranean, Contemporary minimal, Dry gravel garden, Desert / xeriscape, Coastal and Low-maintenance.

Plant it with: Lavender, Rosemary, Blue fescue, Society garlic, Rock rose and Agapanthus.

Wildlife: The small yellow flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting bees and other insects.

• Root and crown rot in wet soil: improve drainage, reduce watering and replace badly rotted plants.
• Frost damage: choose a sheltered site, cover during brief freezes and wait until spring to remove dead growth.
• Thin or patchy cover in shade: move plants to a sunnier position rather than increasing fertiliser.
• Bare patches from repeated foot traffic: install stepping stones and replant damaged sections with rooted divisions.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. Species-specific toxicity information is limited, so do not treat any part as edible or encourage pets or livestock to eat it.

• Gazania (Gazania rigens)

  Also has leaves with pale undersides, but forms taller clumps or trailing growth and carries much larger, showy daisy flowers.

• Silver Falls dichondra (Dichondra argentea)

  Has rounded, kidney-shaped silver leaves on trailing stems rather than narrow leaves in a tight carpet.

• Woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus)

  Has much smaller, woolly leaves on wiry stems and pink flowers rather than yellow daisies; crushed foliage is aromatic.

The botanical name commemorates Margaret Dryden-Dymond, who collected the plant in South Africa.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring, or in early autumn in frost-free climates. Lift rooted sections with some soil attached, replant promptly and keep evenly moist until established.

Accepted botanical name

Dymondia margaretae

Native range

Cape Provinces.

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