Trailing Pearlwort Sagina decumbens
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- sa-GEE-nuh de-KUM-benz
- Description
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Trailing Pearlwort is a spreading, moss-like, cool-season annual in the carnation family. The plant matures at 6 inches high with a rosette of bright green leaves that wrap around the stems. The stems form a mat and sprawl across the ground and terminate in individual or small cymes of white flowers.
Trailing Pearlwort prefers cool, moist conditions in light shade to full sun and rocky or sandy soil. Most vegetative growth occurs during the spring while the weather is moist and cool. This plant can survive a limited amount of foot traffic, but the less traffic the better.
The root system consists of a slender taproot that is shallow and divides frequently into secondary roots. This plant spreads by reseeding itself and it often forms small colonies of plants with a mossy appearance.
Trailing Pearlwort is generally seen near walkways. There are selections and related species sold in the garden trade for rock gardens or vegetation between pavers. This species of Sagina is nearly identical to S. procumbens. Both have thin, awn-like leaves that are 1/2 to 1 inch in length, can form dense mats and, until recently, all Pearlworts were lumped together as S. decumbens. But there are at least 4 Sagina spp. divided into 2 groups: those with 5 sepals and those with 4 sepals. Only S. procumbens and S. apetala have flowers with 4 sepals.
A prolific seed producer, seeds are borne in cup-like pods and spread quickly. Trailing Pearlwort can be quite weedy and if plants are undesired, do not let them go to seed. Management strategies include improving drainage in areas where the plant might persist. Trailing Pearlwort is well managed by pre-emergent herbicides. Be sure to check the label for use of the herbicide.
Diseses, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:
No known diseases or insect pests. The plant, itself, can easily spread and quickly become a weedy invasive.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sagina
- Species:
- decumbens
- Family:
- Caryophyllaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- For rock gardens or vegetation between pavers.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Aleutian Islands, Canada, Central United States and Mexico
- Distribution:
- Eastern United States from New England to Florida.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The ovoid seed capsule is white and membranous with 4 blunt teeth along its upper rim. Each capsule contains several dark tiny seeds that can be blown about by the wind. The surface of each seed is minutely pebbly.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Wheel
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Stems terminate in individual flowers or small cymes in spring and early summer. Each flower is ΒΌ of an inch across when fully open, consisting of 4 white petals and 4 stamens. The petals are short, narrow, and often missing or poorly developed. The blooming period occurs from mid- to late spring and lasts about a month.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Thin leaves, 1/2 to 1 inch in length, that can form dense mats. Pairs of leaves occur at intervals along the stems. Each pair merges together and wraps around the stem, which is slightly swollen where each pair of leaves occurs.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- One or more stems develop from a rosette of leaves. These stems are bright green, glabrous, and tend to sprawl across other stems or the ground.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
