Japanese name: ディコンドラ アルゲンテア Scientific name:Dichondra carolinensis
[Overview]
An evergreen perennial that grows in desert regions in its native habitat.
The whole plant has a metallic, silvery-white sheen.
The stems branch and creep along the ground, spreading by rooting at the nodes.
The leaves are simple and alternate, fan-shaped, about 2.5 cm wide, with entire margins.
The flowers are solitary in the leaf axils, greenish yellow to white; the corolla is 5-lobed, but small and inconspicuous.
The fruit consists of two mericarps.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by division.
In areas where temperatures do not fall below 0 °C, it can overwinter outdoors while remaining evergreen.
Even if the aboveground parts die back, it will sprout again in spring as long as the roots are alive.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained site.
In poor light the leaf color deteriorates.
It is best kept on the dry side: for potted plants, water thoroughly after the soil has dried well; for plants in the ground, rainfall is sufficient.
If basal fertilizer is applied, no further fertilizing is particularly needed, but for potted plants a small amount of slow-release fertilizer or diluted liquid fertilizer may be given in spring and autumn.
There are no particular pests or diseases.
