Photo: Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Light
- full sun to light shade. The silver is brightest in full sun
- Water
- low. Let the top inch of mix dry between waterings; it is very drought tolerant and hates wet feet
- Toxicity
- Not listed by ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline. NC State Extension notes it can cause skin irritation if touched (low severity)
| Type | Warm-season annual |
|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun, part sun |
| Water | Low |
| Size | 2 to 4 in tall, 3 to 4 ft wide |
| Plant in | mid-April to June |
| Interest | Summer, fall |
| Upstate winter | One season |
| Hardy zones | 10 to 12 |
| Use in | Containers, beds |
| Role | Trailer |
Toxicity not independently confirmed: Not listed by ASPCA or Pet Poison Helpline; NC State Extension Plant Toolbox. If you have pets, check with the ASPCA or your vet before putting this one where they can reach it.
‘Silver Falls’ is the trailer for a planter that needs to look finished on day one. Its small round leaves are a metallic silver that makes every other color in the pot look brighter, and it drops straight down the side, three feet or more by August. It needs little trimming. It is also one of the few trailers that forgives a hot, dry afternoon.
In the Upstate
It is hardy only in zones 10 and warmer, so it is a summer annual here. Plant it from mid-April once frost is past. NC State notes it tolerates heat and drought well, so August is not the month that wrecks it. Frost in November finishes it. In a bed it makes a seasonal silver groundcover, but it will not come back.
In a container
It is a pure trailer. Set it at the front edge of the pot and it will cascade 3 to 6 feet in a season from a tall planter or a hanging basket. It stays 2 to 4 inches tall, so it never crowds the plants above it. Water when the top inch of mix is dry, which is less often than the rest of the pot wants. It holds all season without swapping.
Care
Go light on water. Drainage matters more than feeding: it does fine on the slow-release fertilizer the rest of the pot gets. Trim the strands if they reach the ground. NC State notes the leaves can irritate skin, so wear gloves if you react to it. The one thing that kills it is a pot that stays wet, especially in a cool, rainy stretch in May.
Want this planted for the light you actually have? Start a project
Sources
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls' (plants.ces.ncsu.edu)
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants, letter D index, no entry (aspca.org)
- Pet Poison Helpline, searched dichondra, no entry (petpoisonhelpline.com)
