How to Grow Silver Falls

Wikimedia Commons

Silver Falls

Dichondra argentea 'Silver Falls'

vine

Silver Falls is a trailing ornamental vine prized for its delicate, heart-shaped silver-gray foliage and graceful cascading habit. It creates stunning visual interest in hanging baskets, containers, and as ground cover, with stems that can cascade 2-4 feet or more. This tender perennial is typically grown as an annual in most climates and provides a sophisticated silvery accent to garden designs.

When should you plant Silver Falls in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Silver Falls timeline →

Example Silver Falls timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Silver Falls
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Silver Falls
Around May 17

≈ 30 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Silver Falls dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun to partial shade; 4-6+ hours of direct sun daily for best foliage color and density

💧

Water: Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water regularly, especially in hot weather and containers. Reduce watering in cooler months. Drought-tolerant once established but prefers regular moisture for vigorous growth.

📏

Spacing: 12 inches

📅

Days to maturity: 30-45 days to established growth; cascading habit develops over 8-12 weeks

🌱

Planting depth: Surface sow seeds or plant transplants at same depth as nursery pot; do not bury crown

Soil

Type: Well-draining, light, fertile loamy soil

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost or aged bark mulch Perlite or sand for drainage Balanced slow-release fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 9b-11; grown as annual in zones 3-9

9b 10a 10b 11a 11b

Get my Silver Falls timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling/Establishment

2-3 weeks

Young plants with 2-4 true leaves; still developing root system and initial stem growth. Foliage appears silvery-gray but relatively sparse.

Keep soil consistently moist. Provide bright, indirect light initially. Avoid fertilizing until first true leaves are fully developed. Protect from strong winds.

Vegetative Growth

4-8 weeks

Rapid stem elongation with increasing foliage density. Plants develop multiple trailing stems with increasingly dense coverage of small, silver-gray heart-shaped leaves.

Move to full sun location. Begin light fertilizing every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Ensure consistent moisture. Pinch back early growth to encourage branching if desired.

Cascade Development

6-16 weeks

Mature trailing stems extending 1-4 feet with full silvery foliage coverage creating dramatic cascading effect. Foliage becomes increasingly dense and silvery.

Continue regular watering and feeding. Monitor for pests. Adjust watering based on rainfall and temperature. In containers, may need more frequent watering.

Maintenance/Peak Season

8-20 weeks or until frost

Fully mature, dense, cascading plant with maximum visual impact. Silvery foliage remains vibrant; occasional small greenish flowers may appear (not ornamentally significant).

Maintain consistent watering schedule. Continue biweekly fertilizing through growing season. Remove any dead or diseased stems. Deadhead flowers if desired to direct energy to foliage.

Decline/End of Season

Variable; until killing frost or end of season

In fall/winter or after frost, foliage yellows, growth slows significantly, and plant becomes sparse and weak in temperate zones.

Reduce watering as growth slows. Stop fertilizing. In warm zones (9b+), plant can persist; in cooler zones, treat as annual and replant next season. Compost spent plants.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Scaevola Bacopa Calibrachoa Petunia Verbena Sweet potato vine Helichrysum Licorice plant Torenia Impatiens

Avoid planting near:

Aggressive spreading vines that may compete Plants requiring very dry soil (incompatible watering needs)

Common Pests

Spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil every 7-10 days. Encourage natural predators. Use yellow sticky traps for monitoring.
Remove by hand with rubbing alcohol-soaked cotton swab. Spray with insecticidal soap. Repeat weekly as needed.
Increase humidity and mist foliage. Spray with insecticidal soap or sulfur dust. Use miticide if severe.
and
Hand-pick in early morning or evening. Use copper tape or barriers around containers. Apply organic slug pellets or beer traps.

Uses

🍳

Edible foliage (occasionally)

Culinary

While not commonly used culinarily, Dichondra argentea foliage is technically edible and has been used in some regional cuisines as a mild, slightly sweet green. It has a delicate flavor and tender texture suitable for fresh salads or as a garnish. [source]

🏠

Decorative container and hanging basket plant

Household

Silver Falls is prized as a premium ornamental for container gardening, hanging baskets, window boxes, and trailing displays. Its silvery foliage provides elegant contrast and complements other flowering plants or serves as a standalone specimen. [source]

🎨

Floral arranging and craft material

Craft

The delicate, silvery stems and fine foliage make Silver Falls popular in floral design, dried arrangements, and decorative crafts. Stems can be dried and retained for long-lasting textural elements in bouquets and craft projects. [source]

🦋

Pollinator-friendly landscaping

Wildlife

Although flowers are inconspicuous, the fine, dense foliage provides shelter and microhabitat for beneficial insects. The plant supports ecological gardening when used in pollinator-friendly garden designs. [source]

🏠

Ground cover and landscape accent

Household

In frost-free climates, Silver Falls can be used as a spreading ground cover or living mulch, cascading over slopes, walls, or large containers. Its silvery tone brightens shaded or monochromatic garden areas. [source]

Harvest Tips

Silver Falls is grown for ornamental foliage rather than harvest. Pinch back growing tips regularly (every 2-4 weeks) to encourage bushier, denser cascading growth. Trim or propagate cuttings anytime during growing season. Stems can be cut for floral arrangements or crafts.

Fun Facts

🌱 Silver Falls is native to Mexico and was popularized in ornamental horticulture in the early 2000s, becoming one of the most sought-after trailing foliage plants for contemporary container gardening.
🌱 The silvery-gray color of the foliage comes from fine, hair-like structures (trichomes) on the leaf surface that reflect light, providing a distinctly metallic sheen that intensifies in bright, sunny conditions.
🌱 A single mature plant can cascade 3-4 feet or longer in containers, and gardeners have reported specimens exceeding 5+ feet under optimal conditions, making it an excellent choice for dramatic vertical gardening displays.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Annual Compost Deadhead Full Sun Partial Shade Perennial pH Pinch Back True Leaves

Shop Silver Falls plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Silver Falls planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Silver Falls seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Silver Falls timeline →