No, it is a flowering plant in the carnation family.

It handles light foot traffic but is not a substitute for heavy duty grass.

Plant guide

Annual pearlwort.

Sagina apetala

Pronounced suh-JY-nuh uh-PET-uh-luh

Also known as Annual Pearlwort, Dwarf pearlwort

Annual Pearlwort — Photo by Thomas Gyselinck (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This tiny, unassuming plant is a common sight in lawns and cracks in the pavement. It forms delicate, mossy mats that thrive in cool, damp conditions. You'll often find it acting as a pioneer species in disturbed soil.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Annual herb
Light: Partial shade to full sun
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 2 to 4 days
Mature size: 2 to 4 inches tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 5 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist to mimic its natural damp habitat. Watch for signs of drying out, as this plant doesn't handle drought well. It prefers cooler temperatures and will struggle in intense, scorching heat.

Watering: Keep the soil surface damp but not waterlogged.
Feeding: Use a balanced liquid fertilizer at half strength during the growing season.
Pruning: Trim back any straggly growth to maintain a neat, carpet like appearance.
Repotting: Repot only if the plant becomes root bound or the soil quality degrades.
Soil: Well draining sandy or loamy soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -10 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Annual, often reseeding.
Deer and rabbits: Moderate

Signs it needs repotting

Roots circling the bottom of the pot.
Water running straight through without soaking in.

Safety

People: It is generally considered non toxic, but ingestion should be avoided.
Children: The small size of the plant poses a minor choking hazard if ingested by small children.
Edibility: This plant is not intended for consumption and may cause digestive upset.

How to identify it

Tiny, thread like green leaves
Forms low growing mossy mats
Small white flowers without petals
Grows in dense tufts

Height: 0.02 to 0.1m
Spread: 0.05 to 0.2m
Leaves: bright green, evergreen
Flowers: white, 0.2 to 0.4cm

Problems to watch for

Root rot · Occurs when the soil stays constantly waterlogged for too long.

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your annual pearlwort from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: It stays green through the winter in mild climates. In colder areas, it may die back slightly but usually returns from seed or roots in spring.
In containers: It grows well in shallow containers or troughs as long as drainage is excellent.

Seed

1. Collect seeds from dried capsules in late summer.
2. Sprinkle seeds over moist, well draining soil.
3. Press lightly into the surface without covering.
4. Keep consistently moist until germination.

Plant this in the crevices of stone paths to soften the look of hardscaping.

Grows well with

Thyme · They share similar low growing habits and moisture needs.
Blue Fescue · The fine texture of the pearlwort contrasts nicely with the clumping grass.

Similar species

Irish Moss · It is a very close relative often used in similar landscaping roles.

Science

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Genus: Sagina
Order: Caryophyllales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and parts of North Africa.
Conservation: It is a common, widespread species and is not of conservation concern.

It colonizes disturbed, open ground and thin soils where competition from larger plants is low.

Value to wildlife: ground cover
Pollinators: bees
Uses: ground cover, rock garden filler, pathway edging

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 7/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 3/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is this a true moss?: No, it is a flowering plant in the carnation family.
Can I walk on it?: It handles light foot traffic but is not a substitute for heavy duty grass.

Where the name comes from

Sagina is the Latin word for fodder, while apetala refers to the tiny, inconspicuous flowers that lack showy petals.

Good to know

It is often mistaken for Irish moss.
The species name apetala means without petals.
It thrives in compacted soil where other plants struggle.

Keep your annual pearlwort 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.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on October 19, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.