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Richardia grandiflora

largeflower Mexican clover

Rubiaceae South America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Richardia grandiflora is a low, mat-forming perennial herb in the madder family (Rubiaceae), trailing along the ground and rooting at the nodes to spread 1-3 feet (30-90 cm) wide while staying under 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The opposite, oval to lance-shaped leaves are 0.8-1.6 inches (2-4 cm) long, slightly hairy, and joined by a fringed membrane at the stem. Dense rounded clusters of star-shaped flowers sit at the stem tips, each flower about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across with five to six pink, lavender, or white lobes. It blooms heavily through the warm months and closes its flowers at night and in dull weather. The fruit splits into several small nutlets. In the southern United States it behaves as a fast-spreading lawn and turf invader and is treated as a weed in many areas outside its native range. R. grandiflora grows in sandy, disturbed, open ground and tolerates mowing, foot traffic, and drought.

Native Range

Native to South America, particularly Brazil and neighboring countries, Richardia grandiflora has been introduced and naturalized in the southeastern United States, where it is widespread in Florida and parts of the Gulf Coast. It grows in lawns, pastures, roadsides, and sandy disturbed ground.

Suggested Uses

Used as a low groundcover or lawn alternative in warm, sandy regions where its spread is acceptable, and along paths and hardscape edges. The flowers draw bees and butterflies over a long season. Its vigorous spread and weedy behavior outside its native range limit its use to confined or already disturbed sites.

How to Identify

Look for a flat, ground-hugging mat with paired oval leaves and dense, rounded heads of small star-shaped flowers in pink, lavender, or white. The flowers have five to six pointed lobes and sit on short stalks above the foliage. A fringed membrane joins the leaf bases around the stem, a feature of the madder family. The trailing, rooting stems and warm-season bloom distinguish it in southern lawns.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread1' - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~30 weeks

Spring Summer Fall

Flowers open through the warm season, in frost-free areas nearly year-round, peaking from spring through fall. Individual heads bloom for several days, and the flowers close at night and in overcast weather. Bees and butterflies visit the clustered flowers.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

pink, lavender, or white

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-10 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

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in full sun to part shade on sandy, well-drained soils across a pH from about 5.5 to 7.5. It is adapted to heat and drought and needs little or no irrigation once established. The trailing stems root at the nodes and spread quickly, so it readily escapes garden beds into lawns and natural areas. It is sensitive to frost and dies back or is killed where winters are cold. Mowing is tolerated and does not stop its spread. Confining it to contained beds or hardscape edges limits its movement into turf.

Pruning

No formal pruning is needed. Stems are sheared or mowed to keep the mat low and tidy, though cutting does not curb its spread. Removing it from unwanted areas means pulling or digging the rooted stems, since fragments can re-root.