Glossy cliffortia

Cliffortia ferruginea

Scientific name

This is a fast-growing, spreading, herbaceous ground cover that forms a dense carpet from 300 to 500 mm in height. Leaves are small, toothed, dark green and shiny and are the plant's best feature. It produces minute, white to pinkish flowers in summer to winter, from November to July. Male and female flowers occur on different plants. Flowers are followed by small, dry, encapsulated seeds.

In the garden Cliffortia ferruginea is a very easy-to-care-for plant, adapting to most soils, surviving on very little water and spreading in a controllable manner to cover open ground spaces. The basic requirements are full sun and well-drained soil. Very good in coastal gardens, it is hardy and water-wise. It can be grown in full sun or semi-shade, although it does form a tighter carpet in full sun. It can be used very effectively on slopes/banks as a ground-cover plant, and is also very attractive when allowed to trail over retaining walls. It is equally useful in mixed borders, rockeries, pots or in hanging baskets.

Propagation instructions

By cutting

Propagate from cuttings that root easily within 2 to 3 weeks, in spring and autumn, or by removing rooted runners. The young plants react very well to feeding, and pinching the tips of the young stems encourages bushy growth.