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Calyptocarpus vialis

straggler daisy

Asteraceae Southern United States and Mexico

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant

Native to North America

SunFull Sun – Part Shade – Full Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Calyptocarpus vialis is a low, sprawling perennial growing 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) tall, with branching stems that spread along the ground and root at the lower nodes. The opposite leaves are oval to triangular, 0.5-1.5 inches (1.3-4 cm) long, with coarsely toothed margins and a rough, slightly hairy surface. Small yellow daisy-like flower heads about 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across sit on short stalks in the leaf joints, each with 5-8 short ray florets, appearing through the warm months and nearly year-round in mild climates. The fruit is a small flattened seed with two short barbed bristles that catch on fur and clothing. Plants form a low, open mat in sun or shade and tolerate mowing, which keeps them flat. It spreads by seed and rooting stems and is treated as a lawn and bed weed across the southern United States. Growth slows in cold weather, and top growth is cut back by hard frost. It tolerates drought, heat, and poor soil.

Native Range

Native to the southern United States and Mexico, from Texas and the Gulf states south through Central America. Grows in lawns, gardens, roadsides, woodland edges, and disturbed shaded ground.

Suggested Uses

Used as a low groundcover and lawn substitute in shaded and difficult areas across warm climates, spaced 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) apart. Tolerates foot traffic and fills spots where turf grass struggles. Its spreading, self-seeding habit makes it weedy in maintained lawns and formal beds.

How to Identify

Recognized by low, ground-hugging stems that root as they spread, opposite coarsely toothed leaves, and small yellow daisy-like heads with 5-8 short ray florets in the leaf joints. The barbed two-bristled seeds catch on clothing. Distinguished from small yellow composites by its opposite leaves and stalked flower heads in the leaf axils.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~28 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers through the warm months from spring to fall, and nearly year-round in frost-free areas. Individual heads are small and open in succession over a long season. Cold weather and frost halt flowering until the plant regrows.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-8 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

clay loam sand

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to full shade in most soils, including poor, dry, and compacted ground. Tolerates drought, heat, and foot traffic once established and needs no supplemental water in most settings. Spreads by seed and rooting stems and can move from beds into lawns and paths; regular edging and removal of rooted stems limit its spread. Mowing keeps it low and does not kill it. No serious pests or diseases affect it. It fills shaded areas where turf grasses thin out.

Pruning

Mow or shear to keep growth low and tidy, which the plant tolerates without harm. Pull or hoe rooted stems at bed edges to contain spread. Frost-killed top growth can be cleared in spring before regrowth.

✓ Toxicity

Non-toxic