Creeping Nailwort in bloom

Creeping Nailwort in bloom

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Silver Nailwort

Description:

A very compact, low growing evergreen that forms a neat carpet of tiny, silver-gray leaves that turn peachy orange in fall and winter; small flowers with papery silver bracts appear in summer; a great small groundcover; tolerates light foot traffic

Ornamental Features

Creeping Nailwort is blanketed in stunning clusters of white flowers with silver bracts at the ends of the stems from early to late summer. Its attractive tiny narrow leaves are grayish green in color with hints of silver. As an added bonus, the foliage turns gorgeous shades of peach and in the fall.

Landscape Attributes

Creeping Nailwort is a dense herbaceous evergreen 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 is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Creeping Nailwort is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Creeping Nailwort will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 15 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 10 years. As an evegreen perennial, this plant will typically keep its form and foliage year-round.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. This plant should not require much in the way of fertilizing once established, although it may appreciate a shot of general-purpose fertilizer from time to time early in the growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.

Creeping Nailwort is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. Because of its spreading habit of growth, it is ideally suited for use as a 'spiller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the edges where it can spill gracefully over the pot. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.