Silver carpet is a ground-hugging perennial, growing 1-3 in. high and slowly spreading several feet wide. Its silvery foliage is comprised of narrow leaves that are pale green above and silvery-white below. Small yellow daisy-like flowers grow to 1 in. across and provide modest accent character in spring and summer.
Native to South Africa, silver carpet has been introduced into California gardens as a ground cover for use in small spaces, between paving stones and for rock garden situations. In some instances it has been planted as a lawn or pathway plant where it is able to withstand light foot traffic. Its low profile and relatively slow growth rate make it easily susceptible to invasive weeds when used in large areas. It tolerates full sun and heat, and is adapted to low amounts of supplemental water during summer, though usually looks better with a bit more water than a truly “low” water irrigation schedule. It is sensitive to frost and can be killed by temperatures below 28°F. It is a very small plant that can be encouraged to grow faster and obtain greater coverage by providing additional water. Its best performance is in well-drained soils.
