Silver Falls is the trailing silver groundcover you have seen spilling two metres down the side of a pot or a retaining wall. Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls' has small round metallic leaves on thin cascading stems, thrives on heat and neglect, and asks for very little water once it is going. It is one of the genuinely useful plants for hot exposed Australian positions where most trailing plants fry.
Quick facts
| Detail | What to expect in Australia |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls' |
| Origin | Southern United States and Mexico |
| Trailing length | 1-2 m from a pot or wall |
| Spread as groundcover | 600 mm-1 m |
| Position | Full sun. Silver colour needs it |
| Soil | Free draining. Sandy and gravelly is ideal |
| Water | Low once established. Hates wet feet |
| Frost | Tender. Damaged by hard frost |
| Best climates | Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, warm inland |
Silver Falls is not the native dichondra
This trips people up constantly. Two very different plants share the genus name and are sold alongside each other.
| Silver Falls (D. argentea) | Kidney weed (D. repens) | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Southern USA and Mexico | Australian native |
| Foliage | Silver, metallic | Bright green |
| Habit | Trailing and cascading | Flat, mat-forming |
| Position | Full sun, dry | Sun to shade, moist |
| Best use | Pots, walls, hanging baskets | Lawn substitute, between pavers |
If you want a soft green lawn alternative that handles light foot traffic, you want Dichondra repens, the Australian native. If you want silver foliage spilling over an edge, you want Silver Falls. They are not interchangeable and they want opposite conditions.
Where it grows in Australia
- Perth and Adelaide - ideal. Dry heat and sandy free-draining soil are exactly what it wants.
- Brisbane and southeast Queensland - very good in pots and raised positions. Watch drainage through a wet summer.
- Sydney - grows well in a sunny well-drained spot.
- Melbourne - fine through the warm months; a hard frost will damage it, so treat it as a pot plant that can shelter.
- Warm inland and dry districts - excellent. Genuine drought tolerance once established.
- Wet tropical Queensland - struggles. Humidity and constant rain cause rot.
Getting the silver colour
The metallic silver is the whole point of the plant, and it is entirely dependent on light. In full sun the foliage is bright silver-grey. In part shade it fades toward dull green, the stems stretch, and the plant looks nothing like the one you bought.
There is no fertiliser or treatment that restores the colour - it needs sun. If the only position available is shaded, plant something else.
How to plant
- Plant in spring so it establishes through warm weather.
- Full sun, without exception. Six hours minimum, and more is better.
- Drainage is critical. In pots use a free-draining mix, and consider adding coarse sand or perlite. In the ground, plant on a raised bed or slope.
- Plant at the edge of a pot, wall or raised bed so the stems can cascade rather than lying flat.
- Space at 300-400 mm as a groundcover.
- Water regularly for the first six weeks, then reduce sharply.
Ongoing care
Watering - less than you think
Overwatering is the main way Silver Falls dies. It stores moisture in its stems and prefers to dry out between waterings. Let the top of the mix dry, then water deeply. In a pot with a saucer, empty the saucer - standing water rots it quickly.
Feeding
Very little. A light application of controlled-release fertiliser in spring is plenty. Overfeeding produces soft green growth that loses the silver colour and the fine trailing habit.
Trimming
Trim stems back by a third in early spring to encourage branching and prevent a thin straggly look. Pinching the tips on young plants makes a much fuller cascade. It reshoots readily, so do not be timid.
Common problems and fixes
- Green rather than silver foliage means insufficient sun, or too much fertiliser. Move it into full sun.
- Blackened, collapsing stems is rot from overwatering or poor drainage. Reduce water and improve the mix.
- Thin, sparse trailing is usually shade or lack of tip pruning when young.
- Bare patches in the middle is normal on older plants. Trim back in spring to force new growth from the base.
- Damage after a cold snap is frost. Cut back in spring and it usually recovers if the roots were protected.
- Failing in a wet summer is a drainage problem. Raise the pot on feet and move it under eaves during prolonged rain.
Where to use it
Silver Falls earns its place in three situations. Spilling from a large pot, where the silver contrasts beautifully with dark foliage or a terracotta glaze. Cascading over a retaining wall or raised bed, where it softens hard edges. And in hanging baskets, where the long trailing stems are shown off properly.
It combines particularly well with the plants that share its conditions - agaves, succulents, olives, lavender and other Mediterranean and dry-climate planting. Against dark green foliage the silver reads almost white.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Silver Falls trail?
One to two metres from a pot or wall in a season or two, given full sun and free drainage. Trimming the tips when young produces a fuller, denser cascade rather than a few long thin stems.
Why has my Silver Falls turned green?
Not enough sun, or too much fertiliser. The silver colour depends on strong light and lean conditions. Move it into full sun and stop feeding; there is no product that restores the colour in shade.
Is Silver Falls an Australian native?
No. Dichondra argentea comes from the southern United States and Mexico. The Australian native is Dichondra repens, kidney weed, which is green, mat-forming, and used as a lawn substitute rather than a trailing plant.
How often should I water it?
Less than most plants. Let the top of the soil dry out, then water deeply. Overwatering and poor drainage are the most common causes of failure, particularly in pots with saucers that stay full.
Can Silver Falls handle frost?
Not hard frost. It is damaged in cold districts, so in Melbourne, Canberra or inland areas grow it in a pot that can be moved to shelter. Light frost usually only burns the tips.
Can I walk on it?
No. Silver Falls is a trailing ornamental, not a lawn substitute, and it will not take foot traffic. For that use the native Dichondra repens, which tolerates light traffic between pavers.
Ready to plant?
We grow both Silver Falls and the native kidney weed. Browse our climbers and groundcovers collection, or plants for pots.
Planning a dry garden? See drought tolerant plants and agave garden ideas.
