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Modiola spp.
Warm-temperate Americas (southeastern USA and South America)
Overview
Modiola spp. is a single-species genus in the mallow family (Malvaceae), represented by Modiola caroliniana, a low, mat-forming annual or short-lived perennial herb. Trailing stems root at the nodes and spread 12-24 inches (30-60 cm) wide while rising only 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall. The leaves are rounded in outline and palmately cut into 3 to 5 toothed lobes, 0.8-2 inches (2-5 cm) across, carried on long stalks. Solitary flowers about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) wide open in the leaf axils, with five salmon-orange to brick-red petals around a darker center and a central column of fused stamens typical of the family. The fruit is a ring of segments each tipped with two stiff bristles, the feature behind the common name bristlemallow. Adapted to disturbed ground, lawns, and damp open soil, the plant roots readily and can spread into a persistent weed, and it is naturalized far beyond its native American range. Frost kills top growth, so in cold regions it behaves as an annual.
Native Range
Modiola caroliniana is native to the warm-temperate Americas, including the southeastern United States and parts of South America, though its exact original range is debated because of long-standing naturalization. It now grows on several continents as an introduced weed of lawns, roadsides, and moist disturbed ground.Suggested Uses
Sometimes used as a quick groundcover on bare, moist soil and for cover on disturbed sites. More often encountered as a volunteer weed in turf and gardens than as a deliberate planting. Container culture limits its spreading habit.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height2" - 6"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering spans a long warm-season period, chiefly spring through autumn, and can continue year-round in frost-free climates. Individual flowers are short-lived, opening in sequence as the stems lengthen. Bloom slows or stops during cold weather and drought.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Salmon-orange to brick-redFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 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
Grow in full sun to part shade on moist, moderately fertile soil; the plant adapts to clay, loam, and sandy ground. Even moisture supports dense growth, while extended drought reduces vigor and flowering. Because stems root at the nodes, colonies enlarge quickly and can move into lawns and beds, so containment may be needed. No feeding is needed on average soils. Propagation is by seed or by rooted stem fragments, both of which establish readily. Top growth is killed by frost and regrows from seed or surviving crowns where winters are mild.Pruning
Trim or mow spreading stems to limit lateral spread and reseeding. Remove rooted runners to hold the plant back from adjacent lawn and beds. No structural pruning is needed.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons