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Herbaceous PerennialAlpine Rockery

Sagina subulata

heath pearlwort

A low-growing evergreen perennial, forming dense mats of slender stems that root at the the nodes, with fine, linear mid-green leaves held in pairs along the stems. Tiny white flowers are held up on stems to 4cm high in summer

Other common names

lawn pearlwort
lawn spurrey

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Plant nurseries
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Ultimate height

Up to 10cm

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Caryophyllaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Matforming
Genus: A genus of 20 to 30 mat-forming annual or perennial herbs, native to temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere. The slender foliage is emerald green and moss-like, and small white flowers appear in the summer
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Europe

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile, acid to neutral soil, in full sun with some midday shade. Dislikes intense heat, drought and waterlogging. May become leggy in too much shade. Tolerates light foot traffic, good for gaps in paving as well as rock gardens, troughs and small, low-use lawns

Propagation

Propagate by seed, sown in containers in autumn, or by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Patio and container plants
Rock garden
Ground cover

Pruning

No pruning required, but may be trimmed back from paving to keep edges neat

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, and to red spider mite if grown under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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