Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls'
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Dichondra evolvulacea var. argentea
- Phonetic Spelling
- dy-KON-druh ar-JEN-tee-uh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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'Silver Falls' is a popular cultivar of Dichondra argentea, commonly called Silver Nickle Vine. It is a creeping, trailing herbaceous perennial. The plant's maximum height of 4 inches and rapid spread of rooting stems to 3 to 4 feet wide make it a great bedding plant or ground cover and its silvery metallic-like foliage contrasts well with other green-leaved plants. This plant can grow in sandy loam soil and is best suited for containers, hanging baskets, rock walls, as a ground cover, window boxes, or an accent plant in beds. From a hanging basket, it will cascade down 3 to 6 feet in one season. The genus name comes from the Greek words di meaning two and chondros meaning lump in reference to the fruit having two capsules. The species name means silvered.
'Silver Falls' is a winter hardy evergreen; however, it is sometimes grown as an ornamental annual. The plant prefers dry to medium moisture, well-drained soils, and full sun. But it does tolerate some light shade, heat. and drought. It will also do well in sandy loams with good drainage. It is best grown in baskets or containers or as a seasonal ground cover. Soil drainage is particularly important if plants are grown as a ground cover.
Insect Pests, Diseases, and Other Problems:
This plant does not have major insect, pest, or disease problems.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Colorful Borders Davidson County Extension Demonstration Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Dichondra
- Species:
- argentea
- Family:
- Convolvulaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- groundcover
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Very drought tolerant; heat; some light shade (dappled sunlight)
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 2 in. - 0 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Two capsuled fruit
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Insignificant (very small) flowers bloom in late spring (May to June) in colors of white and yellow (more of a greenish-yellow).
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has colorful silvery (nearly metallic looking) but soft foliage (about 1 inch). Its shape is somewhere between fan-shaped and round.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are silver and branching.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Rock Wall
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
