Argentina spp.
silverweeds
Overview
Argentina spp. is a genus of low, mat-forming perennials in the rose family, Rosaceae, segregated from Potentilla spp. and made up of roughly one to two dozen species spread across cool temperate and subarctic regions. Plants form rosettes of pinnate leaves 2–8 inches (5–20 cm) long, divided into many toothed leaflets that are green above and coated with silvery, silky hairs beneath. Foliage sits close to the ground, 2–6 inches (5–15 cm) tall, while red, rooting runners spread the plant outward into broad colonies. Single yellow flowers about 0.6–1 inch (15–25 mm) across, each with five petals, are held just above the leaves through summer. A. anserina, silverweed, is the most widespread species, growing on damp meadows, riverbanks, dune slacks, and trampled ground, while A. egedii occupies coastal salt marshes. The genus tolerates poor, compacted, and seasonally wet soils that defeat many perennials, but its running stems can spread into a weed in cultivated beds. The starchy roots were once gathered and cooked as food across northern Europe and North America.
Native Range
Argentina spp. is native across the cool temperate and subarctic Northern Hemisphere, circling Europe, Asia, and North America, with some species reaching southern South America. It grows in damp meadows, shorelines, salt marshes, and disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Argentina spp. is used as a tough groundcover for banks, pond margins, and damp lawns, and in coastal and wildlife plantings. It binds soil on slopes and in dune restoration, spaced 12–18 inches (30–45 cm) apart for quick cover. In borders its running habit suits informal or naturalistic schemes more than tidy beds.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1'6" - 3'
Bloom Information
Argentina spp. flowers through summer, mainly June to August, opening single yellow blooms a few at a time over a long season. Each flower lasts a day or two, and a colony shows a scattering of open flowers rather than a single flush. Flowering continues longer in cool, moist conditions.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
green above, silvery beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight