Dichondra argenta or Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ as it’s more commonly know is an incredible plant that resembles a waterfall of tiny velvety silver coins. Its silver foliage makes a striking contrast to bright, vibrant annual flowers and dark-leaved plants. When used as a groundcover, its creeping stems root wherever it comes in contact with the ground. This enables the Dichondra to spread quickly and form a lush, dense mat that not only looks great but blocks weeds.
How to use
While it can be used as ground cover, we love using Silver Falls as a trailing plant and will plant it in a spot where it can cascade its long trailing stems. This can be done over a pot rim, retaining walls, a hanging basket and, as pictured here, even sheds! Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ is a great addition to city, courtyard, rooftop and cottage gardens.
You can view more from our Camberwell project here.
How to plant
Silver Falls will thrive best in full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. The more sun it receives, the more of a silvery finish you will see. You can expect it to grow to 20cm high and 2m wide, which is why it’s also an excellent option for ground cover. When planting, we recommend spacing your spots approx. 90cm – 1.2m apart for best results.
Companion plants
The following plants are great companions to Dichondra argentea ‘Silver Falls’:
- Agave ‘Blue Glow’
- Senecio mandraliscae – Blue Chalksticks
- Liriope muscari ‘Monroe White’
- Cordyline australis ‘Red Star’ – Cabbage Tree
- Aeonium arboreum
Care and maintenance
Silver Falls is drought, wind and heat tolerant. Ensure that it receives plenty of water while establishing (approx. 12 weeks) and then water regularly during dry spells. To achieve lush coverage, feed with a liquid fertiliser monthly in spring and summer.
