© Nick Helme, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC) · iNaturalist
Dymondia spp.
silver carpet
Overview
Dymondia spp. is a genus of a single species, D. margaretae, a low, mat-forming evergreen perennial in the daisy family, native to a small area of the southwestern Cape of South Africa. Plants spread by creeping stems and a deep taproot into a tight ground-hugging carpet 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) high, rooting as they go. The narrow, strap-shaped leaves are gray-green above and white-felted beneath, and their edges roll under in dry or hot weather to show the silver undersides. Small, stemless yellow daisy flowers sit nearly flush with the foliage through summer. The genus grows in full sun on sandy, sharp-draining soil and tolerates drought, heat, salt, and light foot traffic once established, though it is slow to fill in and damaged by hard frost and wet, cold soils. It is planted as a lawn substitute and to fill gaps between paving stones in mild, dry climates. Plants are hardy only to about USDA zone 9. The deep taproot finds moisture and anchors the mat against erosion. Establishment is slow in the first year before the carpet knits together.
Native Range
Native to a small part of the southwestern Cape of South Africa, growing on sandy flats and seasonally moist ground in a Mediterranean climate.Suggested Uses
Planted as a low lawn substitute, between paving stones and stepping stones, and on sunny banks for erosion control in mild, dry climates. Suited to gravel gardens and narrow strips where mowing is awkward. Plants are not reliable in cold-winter or wet, shaded sites.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 2"
Width/Spread1' - 1'8"
Colors
Bloom Information
Small yellow daisy flowers appear through summer, sitting nearly flush with the leaf mat. The flowers are small and scattered rather than showy. Flowering is heaviest in warm, sunny conditions.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
gray-green above, silver beneathGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants grow in full sun on light, sandy, sharp-draining soil and tolerate drought, heat, and salt once established. They are planted from plugs or divisions in spring, spaced 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) apart, and kept watered through the first season while the mat knits together. After establishment they need only occasional deep watering. Cold below about 25 F (-4 C) and wet winter soils cause damage, so the plant suits mild, dry-summer climates. Light foot traffic is tolerated once the carpet is dense. Weeds are removed by hand until the mat closes over.Pruning
No real pruning is needed. Stray or lifted growth is trimmed to keep the carpet flat, and frost-damaged patches are cleared in spring to let the mat regrow. Mowing is not required.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons