Will it survive a freeze?

It may die back to the ground in a hard freeze but usually returns quickly in spring.

It stays low enough that mowing is rarely required, though you can trim it to keep it tidy.

Plant guide

Straggler daisy.

Calyptocarpus vialis

Pronounced ka-lip-toh-KAR-pus VEE-ah-lis

Also known as Straggler daisy, creeping Cinderella weed, creeping Cinderella-weed, horse herb, prostrate lawnflower

This tough little groundcover is a fantastic native choice for filling in bare spots in your landscape. It handles foot traffic well and stays low to the ground. You'll love how it spreads to create a lush, green carpet.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial groundcover
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 6 inches tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 8 to 11
Bloom time: Spring to fall

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist while it gets established in your garden. Watch for wilting if the weather gets too dry, as it prefers a bit of hydration. It's a very resilient plant that rarely needs extra attention once it takes hold.

Watering: Water more frequently during hot, dry spells to keep the foliage looking its best.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in spring helps encourage vigorous growth.
Pruning: Trim back any straggling stems if it starts to spread into areas where you don't want it.
Repotting: If growing in a container, move it to a larger pot once the roots begin to circle the bottom.
Soil: Well draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -7 to 38°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 3 to 5 years.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Growth slows significantly during the growing season.
The plant dries out much faster than usual.

Safety

People: There are no reports of significant toxicity to humans, but it is not intended for consumption.
Children: The plant is generally safe, but keep an eye on small children to ensure they do not ingest the foliage.
Edibility: This plant is not considered edible and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Small yellow daisy like flowers
Opposite, triangular to ovate leaves
Low growing, creeping habit
Serrated leaf margins

Height: 0.05 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.3 to 0.9m
Leaves: green, semi-evergreen
Flowers: yellow, 0.5 to 1cm

Problems to watch for

Root RotCommon
AphidsUncommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Slugs and SnailsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, fall
Overwintering: In colder regions, apply a light layer of mulch to protect the roots if you expect a hard freeze. It will naturally go dormant and return when temperatures rise.
In containers: It grows well in wide, shallow containers, but it will quickly spill over the edges.

Division

1. Dig up a section of the plant with roots attached.
2. Gently pull the clump apart into smaller pieces.
3. Replant immediately in moist soil.

Plant it under taller shrubs to create a living mulch that suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture.

Grows well with

Turk's Cap · They share similar moisture needs and thrive in the same shady garden spots.
Inland Sea Oats · The taller grass provides a nice structural contrast to the low creeping daisy.

Similar species

Frogfruit · Both are excellent low growing native ground covers for similar climates.

Science

Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Calyptocarpus
Order: Asterales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Southern United States, Mexico, and Central America.
Conservation: It is not of conservation concern and is often considered a vigorous grower in its native range.

This plant colonizes disturbed soil and shady areas by creeping along the ground and rooting at stem nodes.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, ground cover habitat
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: ground cover, lawn alternative, erosion control, pollinator garden

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 5/9
Temperature: 7/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 4/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Will it survive a freeze?: It may die back to the ground in a hard freeze but usually returns quickly in spring.
Does it need mowing?: It stays low enough that mowing is rarely required, though you can trim it to keep it tidy.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Calyptocarpus comes from Greek words meaning covered fruit, while vialis refers to its tendency to grow along roadsides or paths.

Good to know

It is commonly known as straggler daisy.
It spreads rapidly by rooting at the nodes.
It handles light foot traffic surprisingly well.
It thrives in both sun and shade.

Keep your straggler daisy growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.