© Zihao Wang, some rights reserved (CC-BY) · iNaturalist
Overview
Bowlesia spp. is a genus of about 14 species of slender annual herbs in the carrot family (Apiaceae), centred in temperate and montane South America with one widespread species, B. incana, reaching North America, the Caribbean, and other warm regions. Plants are prostrate to weakly climbing, with thread-like stems spreading 6 to 20 inches (15 to 50 cm) across the ground and rising only 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to 10 cm). The rounded leaves are palmately five- to seven-lobed, 0.2 to 0.8 inch (5 to 20 mm) wide, and covered in star-shaped (stellate) hairs that give a greyish cast. Minute white to greenish flowers, each under 0.1 inch (2 mm) across, are borne in small stalked clusters in the leaf axils, followed by paired, egg-shaped fruits. Bowlesia spp. grows in moist, shaded ground, including woodland floors, stream banks, and irrigated or shaded parts of gardens and lawns, where it often behaves as a cool-season weed. The whole plant completes its life cycle in a single season and dies after setting seed.
Native Range
Bowlesia spp. is native primarily to South America, with the centre of diversity in the Andes and temperate southern South America. B. incana has spread well beyond this range and is naturalised across parts of North America, the Mediterranean, and other warm-temperate regions.Suggested Uses
Rarely cultivated deliberately, Bowlesia spp. appears mainly as a cool-season groundcover or volunteer in shaded, moist ground. Where tolerated, it forms a thin green carpet beneath shrubs and in damp lawns. It is more often managed as a weed than grown as an ornamental.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 4"
Width/Spread6" - 1'8"
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs mainly in the cool months of spring, and in autumn to winter in mild climates, over roughly 4 to 8 weeks. The flowers are minute, under 0.1 inch (2 mm) across, and easily overlooked. Each cluster holds only a few flowers.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to greenishFoliage Description
greyish greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-5 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
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
As a self-sowing annual, Bowlesia spp. needs little active care and grows in moist, shaded soils of moderate fertility at a pH of 5.5 to 7.5. Consistent surface moisture and shade favour germination and leafy growth, while hot, dry, exposed sites stop the plant early. It tolerates a range of soil textures from loam to clay provided the surface stays damp. In gardens it spreads by seed and can colonise shaded lawns and beds. Removing plants before seed set limits unwanted spread.Pruning
No pruning is needed for this low annual. Plants can be pulled by hand where they are not wanted, which is easiest before seed set. They die back naturally after fruiting.⚠️ Toxicity Warning
UnknownPlanting Guide
Planting Methods & Timing
Planting Method
direct sow
Direct Sow Timing
Self-sows in autumn or early spring; cool, moist soil triggers germination.
Days to Maturity
60–90 days