Plant Care Guides / Outdoor & Coastal / Groundcovers
Indigenous | Easy Care | Groundcovers
Carpet of Stars is one of the best lawn alternatives available for coastal gardens. It forms a flat, dense, spreading mat of tiny succulent leaves studded with small, starry, pink-white flowers in spring and summer.
It stays tight to the ground, handles light foot traffic, and once established it needs almost no water, no mowing and no feeding. It is a mesemb (succulent groundcover) from the winter-rainfall parts of the Western Cape, but it thrives in the coastal conditions here. If you have a sunny, sandy patch where lawn struggles or where you are tired of mowing and watering, this is the plant to consider. It roots as it spreads, knitting itself together into a seamless carpet.
2 to 5 cm tall. Spreads indefinitely.
Moderate. It fills in over one to two seasons from plugs planted on 20 to 30 cm centres.
Lawn alternative, pathway edging, between pavers, bank cover, rockery, container spillover. Mass planting for the best effect.
Full sun. It thins out and gets leggy in shade.
Sandy, well-drained soil. It thrives in the poor, sandy conditions here and does not need rich soil. Avoid heavy, waterlogged ground.
Very low once established. Water regularly for the first few months while plugs root and spread, then ease off to almost nothing. It is one of the most water-wise groundcovers available.
None needed. It grows in poor soil and does not benefit from feeding.
None. Trim the edges if it spreads beyond where you want it.
Ask about availability. WhatsApp us to check what is currently in stock, or visit the nursery and we will help you choose the right plant for your spot.
