Sometimes gardens or containers need a neutral accent plant to provide visual relief. Dichondra is that plant. The lovely silver or pale green foliage creates a dense mat of leaves that soften any area. Silver falls literally softens areas with its soft-to-the-touch fine silver hairs on the leaves.

Dichondra grows best in full sun. In partial shade, the silver varieties tend to stay greener and have a looser habit. Green types tend to have a dense growth habit, so you generally won't notice much of a difference in full or part sun. Both kinds need the soil to dry out between waterings so they don't rot. They also benefit from a regular fertilizing.

These beautiful trailers are easy to start from seed. Seedlings should emerge within a week. As silver varieties send out runners, you might have to pinch them to encourage branching. Green types don't require pinching.

Non-native species, especially the green varieties, can become aggressive and slightly invasive.

Due to its quick spreading habit, dichondra works as a no-mow lawn substitute in spots that don't get much foot traffic. It forms extremely dense mats of foliage that prevent weed growth and cover spots much quicker than grass.