Grow Silver Falls in a hanging basket after frost, in full sun, and water when the mix is dry. Silver Falls is Dichondra argentea, also called silver nickel vine.
Give it full sun, soil that drains, and water when the mix is dry
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun for the silver color; light shade is all right | Do not grow it in deep shade |
| Soil | A mix that drains, or sandy loam in the ground | Do not leave the roots in standing water |
| Water | Water when the mix is dry; it recovers after a wilt | Do not keep the pot wet |
| Winter | Bring the basket inside before frost, or treat it as an annual | Do not leave the pot out on a freezing night |
Silver Falls is a silver trailer. It wants a full day of sun, or light shade, and soil that drains. Let the mix dry between waterings. In the ground it takes heat and missed water better than a soggy pot. A hanging basket still dries fast in wind, so check the mix, then water until it runs out the hole. [1] [2] kidney weed is the green lawn plant in this catalog — see How to Grow Dichondra.
Does Silver Falls need full sun?
Give it full sun for the brightest silver. Light shade is all right. Deep shade makes a thin, greenish trailer.
How often should I water Silver Falls?
Water when the mix is dry. It often recovers after a wilt. Do not leave the pot standing in a saucer of water.
Plant after frost in a hanging basket
Wait until frost has passed, then set a nursery plant in a hanging basket or a tall pot with a drainage hole. One plant will cascade several feet by late summer. In well-drained ground it can make a seasonal silver mat, but the usual home is a basket you can move. [3]
- Wait until frost has passed before you set a plant outdoors, or keep the basket inside until nights stay warm.
- Use a pot with a drainage hole. Set the crown even with the mix. Do not bury the stems.
- Water to settle the mix, then wait until the top is dry before you water again.
- Before a freezing night, move the basket to a bright window, or treat the planting as an annual and replace it next spring.
When do I plant Silver Falls?
Plant after the last frost, or grow it in a basket and move it outdoors once nights stay warm.
Not a painted fern — and not a dichondra lawn
Japanese painted fern sold as Silver Falls is Athyrium, a shade fern — see How to Grow Lady Fern. kidney weed is the green kidney-leaf lawn in this catalog — see How to Grow Dichondra. Licorice plant is Helichrysum, another silver trailer — see How to Grow Helichrysum. Creeping jenny is Lysimachia, usually gold, not pewter — see How to Grow Lysimachia. [4]
Is Silver Falls a fern?
No. Silver Falls dichondra is Dichondra argentea, a trailing broadleaf. The painted fern with the same shop name is Athyrium.
If a freeze is coming, move the basket inside — a freezing night kills the trailer.
FAQ
Will Silver Falls come back after winter?
Only where frost never hits the crown. Everywhere else, treat it as an annual, or bring the basket inside before a freezing night and keep the mix on the dry side.
Can I grow Silver Falls indoors?
A bright window can hold a basket through winter. Give it as much light as you can, and keep the mix drier than a houseplant that likes even moisture.
What is Emerald Falls?
Emerald Falls is a greener trailing form we do not list. If you own it, treat it as a hanging-basket dichondra, not as a seeded lawn.
Can the leaves irritate skin?
Some people get a mild rash from the foliage. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive. This is not a watering problem.
Can I start Silver Falls from cuttings?
Yes. Cut a stem just below a node, set it in a mix that drains, and keep it barely moist until roots form. Most gardeners buy a nursery plant for the basket.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] NC State Extension Gardener -
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dichondra-argentea-silver-falls/ - [2] Wisconsin Horticulture -
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/silver-falls-dichondra/ - [3] Gardenia -
https://www.gardenia.net/plant/dichondra-argentea-silver-falls - [4] UT Gardens -
https://utgardens.tennessee.edu/delight-in-a-cascade-of-delicate-foliage-with-silver-falls/
This note is part of Dichondra Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors