Brass Buttons foliage

Brass Buttons foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Cotula Squalida

Description:

This variety produces tiny fern like gray-green foliage; delicate fern-like leaves will tolerate some foot traffic; neither flowers or fruit are particularly ornamental; great as a color accent in a rock garden

Ornamental Features

Brass Buttons's attractive tiny ferny compound leaves are grayish green in color on a plant with a spreading habit of growth. The foliage often turns coppery-bronze in fall. It features subtle chartreuse flowers held atop the stems from mid to late spring.

Landscape Attributes

Brass Buttons is a dense herbaceous perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It brings an extremely fine and delicate texture to the garden composition and should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and can be pruned at anytime. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Brass Buttons is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Brass Buttons will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 8 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 8 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant should be grown in a location with partial shade or which is shaded from the hot afternoon sun. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type, but has a definite preference for acidic soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.