Ah, Horseherb (Calyptocarpus vialis), also called Straggler Daisy. There doesn't seem to be much of a gray area on this one. People either truly love this little groundcover or hate it with a passion. I'm of the former variety. I adore this little plant.
Why do I love it? If you've ever walked past a field of horseherb, you are presented with an incredibly lush sea of green, with the daintiest of little yellow flowers throughout to catch your eye. I've seen some gorgeous fields, and each time I was mesmerized by the beauty and serenity of the scene.
Field of horseherb at Hornsby Bend
I almost don't want to walk on it -- it's so pretty in appearance -- but for a non-lawn groundcover, it can withstand some foot traffic. It only needs water in the worst of droughts, and it loves shade and sun.
Horseherb is also native to the southern U.S. on into Central America, and it makes a great alternative to the exotic and water-hogging Bermuda and St. Augustine grasses. I'd love to see it replace Asian jasmine, as well -- now THAT is a plant that will take over a garden bed and yard. Horseherb is considered semi-evergreen, blooming most of the year except in cold winter areas, and if you like you can mow it, or you can let it grow to its typical max height, which is about 8 inches. But as bonus, horseherb also attracts small butterflies, including sulfurs and skippers. And think of all the happy little lizards that will zip underneath the foliage!
It's an eco-friendly solution to having a lawn without having to resort to heavy chemicals or fertilizers or ridiculous amounts of water to sustain it. Lawn irrigation tops the list on where our municipal water goes, and the time for water conservation is now, especially in Texas.
Why do some people want to leave it? Well, in some yards it can be a big nuisance. For those who keep a grass lawn, horseherb is a competitor, and it can be difficult to get rid of. And it can spread into garden beds, though I've found that so far it doesn't bother much with my well-mulched beds. In fact, one of the characteristics of this plant is that it supposedly doesn't do well in areas that have heavy leaves that take a long time to decompose. It spreads by both seeds and runners, which means that if the goal is to remove all of it, you're going to have a challenge. In a wildflower field, I have to imagine that it would be another competitor, but it's going to depend on the goals you have for your yard or area.
But for now I prefer to embrace its desire to spread. What I loathe is the Bermuda Grass and St. Augustine in my yard. I loathe the unnamed weeds that dominate my backyard. I love my buffalograss in the back, but it too is losing to the weeds, and in the drought, the buffalograss was dead most of the time, so I didn't end up loving it as much as I wanted to - I loved it when I could see it.
Will I regret it? Some gardeners are going to shout out an absolute yes to that question. But I do regret having Bermuda and St. Augustine (not that I planted it; that was the previous owners), so it's not a big deal to switch from frustration with the grasses to frustration with another groundcover, unless I've got all three to deal with at the same time. At least horseherb is native. But I'm going for the complete wildscape, and I have a lot of ground to fill and a lot of grass to get rid of. In those bed areas I want to keep maintained, I'll do my best to keep horseherb in check. And love it everywhere else!
Interesting. Didn't know of this plant before. Thanks for posting!!
Wow that field horseherb is stunning! I don't think we have that up here in New England. Great pics! -Jackie
Send some down here!
I love it! It took us 7+ years, but we no longer have any grass lawn and do not own a lawnmower. Horseherb is our primary groundcover in our xeriscaped front yard garden and also in back surrounding the veggie raised beds. In the full-sun front yard, it got crispy and brown this summer but is coming back like crazy now. The few times it's encroached on a flower bed, it was easy to yank out and keep away with mulch. Your post says it all.
I can imagine how pretty a field of this might be, especially with the butterflies. Wouldn't be hardy up here, I bet. Thanks for introducing me to something new.
wow its looking terrific in mass planting. never heard of this plant though. i would love to grow it.
Since I am not that familiar with it, I can't give you a great opinion, but I would rather have that lovely ground cover than scraggly grass, which is what I have.
Rosey
I regret my kikuyu grass, long runners. NOT planted but bobs up wherever gardeners have/had lawns, even just nearby! Sulks in a cherished lawn, and flourishes here where it is disinvited.
Sounds like a good lawn substitute to me. I'd love seeing those yellow flowers
I reluctantly admit that I'm not really a fan, but I can certainly see why you would prefer it to a Bermuda/St. Augustine mix or other more-thirsty groundcovers. Hmm, maybe your picture of the horseherb field at Hornsby Bend will change my mind.
THAT is what that's called!! we have some on our side yard and I LOVE It. I tried to dig some up and transplant it to the mud pit out back, but it died instantly. where can you buy this?
Hi Meredith, I am with you on this one hundred percent. We had St. Augustine in Houston, and I despised everything about it. If this plant can take some foot traffic, why not have it as an alternative to the water thirsty grass lawns? The wildlife aspect sounds perfect and being a native another plus. I have never heard of it or seen it, might not be growing here in TN, but getting rid of lawns and their water needs seems to make sense.
Frances
Pam, I honestly don't know how I would feel if I had a different kind of yard plan in mind. But my first glimpse at a field of horseherb was in the Wells Branch area, walking along the trails (I'm not sure Wells Branch planted it, mind you, given that their creek area is overrun with Chinaberry trees and poison ivy; I suspect that the horseherb just made a home there). I can honestly say it was breathtaking. And the field at Hornsby Bend was that times 30 in size. So pretty. So I'm a fan.
Diane, I know they sell it at Natural Gardener, but it's pretty easy to increase the numbers using what you have, too (from what I've read). I've never bought any -- I'm just encouraging what I can to spread.
Wow, the field of the horseherb looks fabulous! I'm not sure which I would prefer. I guess it would depend on the effect I'm trying to create. I'd like to see yours in a couple of years. Keep us posted.
I've never seen this plant before -- I think I'd love it and leave it. Those are the dearest little flowers...so dainty. I can't imagine walking on it...maybe it's the lizard (or snake) thing. :-)
I agree with you that it is very pretty. I don't think it grows here in New York though. At least I don't remember hearing the name. That was a very interesting post. Thanks.
Love it, in your yard. If it would grow here I'd give it a chance in our more weed (wife)/wildflower (me) than grass lawn.
Lovely - but can see why it could be a problem. I don't think we have it in Europe (???)
Came in to say thank you for the congrats. Must admit to not having followed your blog regularly - but really like it and will be back.
Sue
I like it a lot and have it growing in various spots in my yard. It has completely filled in a lightly shaded area (8 x 15 ft) between my house and an adjacent brick pathway. I never installed a lawn at my house, so it doesn't matter to me where it grows.
I'd love to have that for a lawn of green with bonus flowers. Will have to see if it's hardy in the NW!
Excellent photos Meredith. I agree completely on the St. Augustine issue. The less the better and if I could (without being in trouble with our Homeowner Association) I would remove it completely.
I also live in Austin, and I have this growing naturally in my yard, too. Probably about 70% of the back yard is covered in it. It looks very verdant and covers up the brown spots well... sometimes a little too well, as you can't always see what you're stepping on. That same foliage that gives the little ground lizards cover can also hide dog turds and rocks, so watch where you step, especially if it has grown tall. I do like the little 1/8" yellow flowers all over the place. Nice pics!
Help...after reading all the previous postings...and viewing the pics, I wonder if what I have is horseherb...the stems have a purplish color to them and the leaves look a little more elongated...I do remember seeing the tiny yellow flowers. So my question is what could this hearty little ground cover be?...Are there different varieties of this plant?
By the way, it loves my flower bed...and I am not enjoying it. I am afraid to leave it and let it grow because I do not want it in my grass...although, after all this time I have not noticed it on the other side of my sidewalk...any suggesstions? I might add, because we live in a rural area where copperhead snakes are a problem...we cannot walk in any ground cover where you cannot see where you are stepping. Thanking you in advance for any help you could give.
Renee
Renee, if you could send me a picture, I'd do my best to help you identify it. I don't know about other varieties, but those little yellow flowers are probably your key to identifying whether it's actually horseherb. I understand your concern about snakes -- horseherb definitely grows tall enough to give them cover, but I've found that snakes will be anywhere they choose to be, and its always a surprise. E-mail me at meredith @ greatstems . com
I just had to thank you again for your help! You are absolutely correct, it is purslane. Oh my goodness, I had no idea this little weed is edible, is full of omega 3, benefits the soil, the list goes on...Thank you again for your help! I am most happy!
Renee
I've read that purslane is edible, but I haven't tried it yet. It will definitely spread, though, but maybe you can eat all the baby sprouts, hehe. Just make sure you haven't been using any herbicides in the area.
Diane, I have transplanted clumps of horseherb successfully here in the Texas Hill Country. I did so at the beginning of this past summer, with record-breaking high temps and drought. The secret is to keep watering it until the roots get established, even though the transplant looks wilted immediately and appears dead soon after. IT IS NOT DEAD!
It is merely 'playin' possum'. :-) Once the roots are established it will come back bigger and better than ever. I love horseherb!
sandy