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Planting
Days to maturity
Seasonal yields
Sow indoors · Direct sow · Transplant outdoors
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Plant · P-1135
Horseherb
Calyptocarpus vialis
A low, mat-forming perennial groundcover in the aster family, native to the Gulf Coast states of the southern United States, spreading by underground stolons into a dense, semi-evergreen carpet 15 to 30 cm tall. Tiny bright yellow flowers appear nearly continuously from late winter through fall and draw small butterflies such as sulfurs and skippers. Adapts to deep shade through full sun and grows in sandy, loamy or clay soils from acidic to alkaline, tolerating drought but not standing water. Foliage and flowers are non-toxic and have been eaten as a wild green. Tolerates light foot traffic and is often grown as a shade lawn substitute, though it spreads readily and can be considered weedy where it is not wanted.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Full Sun · Partial Sun · Shade
- USDA zone
- USDA 7–10
- Soil
- Sand · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Dry · Moist · Well-Drained
Vertical layer
Groundcover- Soil pH
- 5.6–7.8
- Plant type
- Perennial
- Mature height
- 6–12 in
- Mature spread
- 6–12 in
- Plant spacing
- 24–35 in
- Root type
- Stolon
- Spread pattern
- Root
Keep exploring
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The deeper layer
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- Primary
- Locked ecological function
- Secondary
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- Byproduct
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Behind the record
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