baby's tears
Soleirolia soleirolii
USDA zones9 to 11
SunHandles partial sun or full shade
WaterHandles moderate to moist soil
Size3 to 6 inches tall3 to 6 feet wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Cascading
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer, autumn, winter
- Bloom color
- White
- Foliage color
- Gold/yellow, green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay, chalk
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral, alkaline
- Toxicity
- Toxic to pets
Garden uses
Notes
Baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is a perennial for ground cover, containers, shade gardens, and rock gardens. It grows outdoors year-round in USDA zone 9 and warmer, down to about 20°F (-7°C). In colder areas, grow it as a houseplant or bring it indoors for winter. This plant likes part sun to full shade and average to moist soil of most types. It grows rapidly and forms a low, cascading mat of tiny leaves. Keep it away from pets, because it is toxic to them.
Pairs well with Minuteman hosta, Aureola Japanese forest grass, and Kimberly queen fern.
Native range
Western Mediterranean.