Diffusus
/dih-FYOO-sus/🏷️ Taxonomy●● Intermediate
Also known as: diffusa, diffusum
A habit epithet describing a plant with a loose, open, widely diffuse growth pattern — spreading without the stiffness of divaricatus, more lax and sprawling. Plants with this epithet have an informal, relaxed quality in the garden. Appears as diffusus (masculine), diffusa (feminine), or diffusum (neuter).
Etymology
From Latin diffusus, past participle of diffundere, meaning "to pour out" or "to spread," from dis- (apart) + fundere (to pour).
Example
“Campanula diffusa and Gypsophila diffusa both have the characteristic loose, open, gently sprawling habit the epithet implies — plants that fill space informally without the rigidity of an upright grower.”