Silverweed.

At a glance

Care level

Easy

Plant type

Herbaceous perennial

Light

Full sun

Indoor light

Direct sun

Water

Every 2 to 4 days

Mature size

2 to 6 inches tall

Growth rate

Fast

Hardiness

USDA 2 to 8

Bloom time

Late spring to mid summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist, as this plant naturally prefers damp conditions. Watch for wilting if the soil dries out too much during hot weather. It is a vigorous grower, so give it plenty of space to spread.

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist at all times.

Feeding

Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.

Pruning

Trim back dead foliage or excessive runners to keep the plant tidy.

Repotting

Repot when the plant becomes root bound or stops spreading.

Soil

Moist, well draining soil

Soil pH

Neutral to slightly acidic

Temperature

-30 to 30°C

Humidity

40 to 80%

Drought tolerance

Low

Lifespan

Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.

Deer and rabbits

Moderate

Safety

People

The plant is generally considered non-toxic, but raw consumption should be avoided due to tannin content.

Children

No specific risks, though the runners can be a tripping hazard if they grow across paths.

Contact allergens

The fine hairs on the leaves may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Airborne allergens

Pollen may cause mild reactions in those with severe grass or weed allergies.

Edibility

While historically consumed, ensure plants are harvested from clean, non-polluted soil as they can accumulate heavy metals.

How to identify it

• Pinnate leaves with silvery undersides
• Bright yellow five petaled flowers
• Spreads via long red runners
• Toothed leaf margins

Height

0.05 to 0.15m

Spread

0.3 to 1m

Leaves

green, silver, deciduous

Flowers

yellow, 1 to 2.5cm

Problems to watch for

• AphidsCommon
• RustCommon
• Slugs and SnailsCommon
• Leaf SpotUncommon
• Powdery MildewUncommon
• Root RotUncommon

Growing it

Propagation

division, runners

When to plant

spring, autumn

Overwintering

The plant dies back to the ground in winter. No special protection is needed as it is very cold hardy.

In containers

It grows well in wide, shallow containers, but it will quickly outgrow them due to its runners.

Plant silverweed in areas where you need a tough, low-growing ground cover that can handle occasional foot traffic.

Grows well with

• Blue-eyed Grass · They share similar moisture needs and look lovely together in a meadow setting.
• Marsh Marigold · This plant thrives in the same damp soil conditions as silverweed.

Similar species

• Common Cinquefoil · It has a similar growth habit but prefers slightly drier soil.

Science

Family

Rosaceae

Genus

Argentina

Order

Rosales

Class

Magnoliopsida

Native range

Northern Hemisphere across North America, Europe, and Asia.

Conservation

This species is widespread and secure across its native range.

It survives in moist, open habitats by using runners to quickly colonize available space.

Value to wildlife

nectar source, ground cover habitat

Pollinators

bees, butterflies

Uses

ground cover, edible greens, medicinal tea

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is silverweed invasive?

It is a vigorous spreader, but it is native to many regions and usually stays low to the ground.

How do I stop it from spreading?

Simply pull up the rooting runners or edge the area with a physical barrier.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Argentina refers to the silvery appearance of the leaves, while anserina means goose-like, likely referring to the leaf shape.

Good to know

• It is commonly known as silverweed because of the silvery underside of its leaves.
• The roots were once a staple food for many indigenous cultures in North America.
• It thrives in disturbed soils and can quickly colonize bare patches of earth.