Soleirolia soleirolii (Baby’s Tears, Angel’s Tears, Bits and Pieces, Bread and Cheese, Corsican Creeper, Corsican Curse, Friendship Plant, Helxine, Irish Moss, Mind-Your-Own-Business, Mother of Thousands, Paddy’s Wig, Pollyanna Vine)

Botanical Information

FamilyUrticaceae
GenusSoleirolia
Speciessoleirolii
SynonymsHelxine soleirolii
CategoryPerennials, Tropicals
OriginWestern Mediterranean region.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone9 - 11
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness ZoneRequires cold season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH1c - H4
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-10 - 10
Temperature (°F)14 - 50
Height7.5 - 15 cm
Spread90 - 180 cm
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodMay, June

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionCreeping, mat-forming plant of the nettle family. Grown for it’s ornamental foliage.
LandscapeRock gardens, borders, houseplants, and terrariums. Lovely under ferns and at the edge of a shade garden.
CultivationGrows best in partial to full shade, in rich, consistently moist, well-drained soil. Foliage will scorch in direct sun. Do not allow to sit in water. Water freely in summer, but reduce watering in winter, keeping soil only slightly moist.
PestsNo serious problems.
Notable SpecimensCentennial Conservatory, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Leaf DescriptionRounded, 6.35 mm in diameter. Leaves form a dense, moss-like ground cover.
Flower DescriptionTiny, lacking individual petals.
Colour DescriptionLeaves range from rich green to lime green. Flowers are ivory or white.
Texture DescriptionLeaves are glossy.

Photographs