Glandularia aristigera
south American mock vervain
Overview
Glandularia aristigera is a low, trailing perennial groundcover with slender, sprawling stems that root at the nodes and spread to form mats 24-48 inches (60-120 cm) wide and 4-8 inches (10-20 cm) high. The leaves are deeply and finely dissected into narrow segments, 0.8-2 inches (2-5 cm) long, dark green and roughly hairy. Small tubular flowers are packed into rounded to flat-topped heads about 1 inch (2.5 cm) across at the stem tips, mauve to purple with a paler eye. The plant flowers over a long warm season and spreads quickly by rooting runners and seed. Native to South America, it has naturalised in parts of Australia, southern Africa, and North America, growing on roadsides, pasture, and disturbed sandy ground. It tolerates heat, drought, and poor soils once established. The vigorous rooting habit lets it colonise open ground and form dense patches, which makes it a minor weed in some regions. It is frost-tender in cold areas, where top growth is cut back by hard freezes.
Native Range
Glandularia aristigera is native to South America, including Argentina, Brazil, and neighbouring countries. It has naturalised in parts of Australia, North America, and southern Africa, growing on roadsides, disturbed pasture, and open sandy ground.Suggested Uses
Used as a fast groundcover for banks, borders, and containers in warm, sunny, free-draining sites. The trailing stems spill from hanging baskets and over walls. Its spreading, self-rooting habit suits informal areas but warrants containment near bushland because it naturalises readily.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 8"
Width/Spread2' - 4'
Bloom Information
Flowers over a long warm season from late spring through autumn, broadly October to May in mild climates, with the heaviest flush in summer. The flower heads open in succession at the trailing tips. Flowering continues until frost or cold checks growth.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
mauve to purpleFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing 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
Grows in full sun on free-draining sandy or loamy soils and tolerates heat, drought, and low fertility once established. It spreads quickly from rooting runners and self-sown seed, covering open ground within a season. Light, infrequent watering keeps it flowering through dry spells, while wet, poorly drained soils invite mildew and root rot. It is frost-tender, with top growth killed by hard freezes and regrowth from surviving roots in mild winters. Trimming after each flush keeps the mat dense and prolongs bloom. Its spreading habit can carry it beyond its intended area.Pruning
Shearing lightly after each flowering flush removes spent heads and encourages fresh growth and further bloom. Runners are trimmed back where the mat spreads beyond its space. Hard cutting back in late winter renews straggly, woody patches.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 2 gallons