Cotula hispida - Leptinella

The Cotula hispida, also known as Leptinella hispida and Hairy Cotula, is an evergreen perennial ground cover that forms cushions of silky, green leaves with silver-grey reflections, topped in summer by small lemon-yellow flowers resembling button boots. A charming little curiosity can be grown in the sun, in any ordinary soil. It is superb in rock gardens, troughs, and borders.

Originally from Australia and South America, Cotulas are alpine plants of the Asteraceae family. They are carpeting plants that grow relatively fast. They are pretty hardy, down to about -7°C (19.4°F), and drought-tolerant.

The Cotula hispida produces persistently finely cut leaves with a soft and silky texture, grouped in pretty rounded clumps. Its colour, a lovely green with silver-grey reflections, is exciting. From June to July, it is adorned with charming small flowers (5 to 8 mm (1in)) in head-like clusters lacking ligules, lemon yellow perched on slender stems. At maturity, it reaches a height of about 15 cm (6in) with a width of 30 cm (12in).

The Hairy Cotula thrives in the sun, in any soil, even very ordinary, provided it is light and well-drained. It is ideal as a ground cover in borders, rock gardens, and pots or troughs. It would look stunning in a sunny rock garden with other ground cover plants such as White Alpine Aster, Roman Chamomile Treneague, and Moss Phlox.