Cotula hispida - Leptinella

<p style="text-align: justify">When searching for <strong>a hardy groundcover for shade or partial shade</strong>, one rarely thinks of Leptinellas. This is a mistake! Indeed, <strong>the button daisies are small, robust perennials that look particularly beautiful when they form a carpet or weave between the paving stones of a path</strong>.</p> <p style="text-align: justify"><strong>They resemble small ferns.</strong> However, this is not the case; leptinellas belong to the aster family, just like yarrow, with which they share this delicate foliage. Like all members of this family, button daisies produce flowers in heads, but these are not particularly spectacular.</p> <p style="text-align: justify">It is mainly for the foliage and its covering ability that leptinellas are grown. <strong>The species <em>Leptinella squalida</em> is most commonly found in commerce, particularly a variety</strong> with dark, coppery-purple foliage that is especially aesthetic: <strong>'Platt's Black'.</strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify">Button daisies are native to New Zealand. <strong>They are hardy, thriving as long as the soil is not too dry but well</strong> <strong>drained.</strong> They quickly colonise <strong>rockeries, the gaps between slabs or stones, or the base of trees and bushes</strong>. They can even be used <strong>in pots</strong> to dress the base of plants; or why not <strong>as a replacement for lawn</strong> since these plants can withstand light foot traffic.</p>