Overview
Callisia repens is a low, creeping perennial that forms a dense mat 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) high and spreads by trailing stems that root at the nodes. The small, rounded to oval leaves are 0.3-0.8 inch (8-20 mm) long, fleshy and waxy, glossy green above and often purple beneath, clasping the slender stems in two ranks. Tiny white three-petalled flowers about 0.1 inch (2-3 mm) across appear among the leaves but are easy to overlook. It grows quickly in warm, frost-free conditions, trailing over the ground or spilling from containers and hanging baskets. Native to warm parts of the Americas, it is grown as a groundcover and indoor plant in many regions and has naturalised as a weed in some warm climates, where its rooting stems spread into lawns and garden beds. The brittle stems break easily and re-root from fragments, which helps it spread but also makes stands hard to remove once established. The sap can irritate the skin of people and pets. It needs steady warmth and grows poorly where temperatures drop near freezing.
Native Range
Callisia repens is native to warm regions of the Americas, from Mexico and the Caribbean through Central America into South America. It grows naturally in shaded, moist ground in tropical and subtropical areas.Suggested Uses
Callisia repens is grown as a trailing houseplant in hanging baskets and shallow pots and as a fast groundcover under shrubs in frost-free gardens. In warm climates where it spreads readily it is kept to contained beds and containers rather than open ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 4"
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
glossy green with purple undersideGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 2-6 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Callisia repens grows in bright, indirect light to part shade and in a free-draining potting or garden mix kept lightly moist. It grows fastest in warm conditions and slows or stops below about 50F (10C), with stems damaged by frost. Indoors it suits hanging baskets and shallow pots, where trailing stems are trimmed to keep growth dense. Outdoors in frost-free climates it spreads readily and is grown as a groundcover, though it can move into lawns and beds. Stem cuttings root easily in soil or water. The sap can cause skin irritation in people and pets.Pruning
Trimming or pinching the trailing stems keeps the mat dense and within bounds, and the plant reshoots quickly from cut stems. Cuttings taken when trimming root easily to make new plants. Removing stray rooted stems limits its spread into surrounding ground.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons