How to Grow Silver Showers Dichondra
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Silver Showers Dichondra
Dichondra argentea 'Silver Showers'
vineSilver Showers Dichondra is a tender perennial trailing vine prized for its delicate, coin-shaped silvery-gray foliage that creates an elegant cascading effect. It is commonly used as an ornamental groundcover or in hanging baskets and containers. The fine, feathery texture and metallic sheen make it a popular choice for adding visual interest to garden beds and landscape designs.
When should you plant Silver Showers Dichondra in your zone?
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Example Silver Showers Dichondra timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Silver Showers Dichondra
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Silver Showers Dichondra
Around May 17≈ 30 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Silver Showers Dichondra dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9b-11; grown as an annual in cooler zones
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Get my Silver Showers Dichondra timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny heart-shaped cotyledons emerge with minimal visible silvery coloring; delicate and fragile with emerging true leaves.
Maintain high humidity and consistent moisture. Provide bright indirect light. Keep soil warm (70-75°F). Avoid damping off by ensuring air circulation.
Vegetative Growth
3-6 weeksSmall trailing stems develop with coin-shaped leaves appearing increasingly silver-gray. Growth accelerates as the plant becomes established.
Transplant into larger containers as needed. Ensure full sun exposure for best silvery coloration. Begin light fertilizing every 2-3 weeks with balanced fertilizer.
Trailing/Cascading
Ongoing throughout growing seasonStems elongate and cascade over container edges or groundcover area. Foliage becomes denser and the silvery-gray color intensifies. Plant reaches mature spreading habit.
Pinch back growing tips early to encourage bushier branching if desired. Maintain consistent moisture and feeding schedule. Support trailing stems if grown upward.
Full Maturity
Maintains through growing seasonDense, fine-textured cascading foliage with uniform silvery-gray coloring. Mature plants may produce small inconspicuous white or pale yellow flowers (though flowers are not the main ornamental feature).
Continue regular watering and monthly fertilizing. Prune to maintain desired shape and prevent overgrowth. Monitor for spider mites in dry conditions.
Dormancy/Winter
3-4 months (November-February in Northern Hemisphere)In warm climates (zones 9b-11), growth slows but plant remains evergreen. In cooler zones grown as annual, foliage deteriorates at first frost.
Reduce watering and fertilizing in winter zones. In frost-prone areas, bring containers indoors or treat as annual. In zone 9b, provide light frost protection.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity and mist foliage regularly. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestation occurs. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Inspect regularly, especially new growth. Remove with rubbing alcohol on cotton swab. Apply neem oil or horticultural oil spray as needed.
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Use yellow sticky traps to monitor and control. Spray undersides of leaves with neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly until controlled.
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Allow soil surface to dry slightly between waterings. Use yellow sticky traps. Apply soil drench with insecticidal soap if severe.
Uses
Cascading Container and Hanging Basket Displays
OrnamentalThe trailing habit and silvery foliage make it ideal for hanging baskets, window boxes, and elevated containers where the stems can cascade gracefully. It creates a soft, ethereal look in mixed container plantings. [source]
Groundcover and Border Accent
OrnamentalUse as an ornamental groundcover in warm climates to fill garden beds, line pathways, or soften hardscape edges. Its fine texture contrasts beautifully with darker or coarser-leaved plants. [source]
Interior Houseplant
HouseholdGrows well as an indoor trailing houseplant near bright windows with good air circulation. Suitable for living walls or shelf displays in zones where outdoor growing is not possible. [source]
Foliage and Floral Arrangements
CraftFresh trailing stems work well as filler material in fresh or dried floral arrangements and bouquets, adding delicate texture and silvery color to designs. [source]
Butterfly and Pollinator Garden
WildlifeWhile small, the flowers provide nectar for small insects and pollinators. The fine foliage also provides shelter for beneficial insects in the garden. [source]
Harvest Tips
Dichondra argentea 'Silver Showers' is not harvested for food or medicinal purposes. For propagation, take 3-4 inch stem cuttings in spring or early summer and root in moist soil or water. Trim back stems as needed to maintain desired shape and encourage fuller growth.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Dichondra argentea 'Silver Showers' is also marketed as 'Emerald Falls' and 'Trailing Silver' under different cultivar names, though 'Silver Showers' remains the most popular designation.
- 🌱 The name 'argentea' derives from the Latin word for 'silver,' referring to the distinctive silvery-gray coating on the leaves that gives the plant its metallic sheen.
- 🌱 Unlike its cousin Dichondra repens (a common lawn weed), Dichondra argentea is a tender annual or tender perennial prized specifically for ornamental appeal rather than turf coverage.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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