Nierembergia repens

A beautiful, floriferous, perennial creeping plant forming beautiful green and white cushions. Nierembergia repens spreads through its rooting stems and has dense green foliage and a long and abundant summer flowering with wide, very bright white flowers. It thrives in sunny exposures and ordinary, moist to dry soil.

Nierembergia repens is a species native to the Andes and warm temperate areas of South America, belonging to the Solanaceae family. This creeping perennial, spreads through underground stolons and forms compact tufts, 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4in) high, spreading from 45 cm (18in) to 60 cm (24in). Its semi-evergreen dense foliage consists of small round, spatulate, bright green leaves, 2 to 3 cm (1in) long. From July to September, it is covered with a mass of small, wide-open white flowers, 3 to 5 cm (1 to 2in) in diameter with a golden centre.

Creeping Nierembergia appreciates sunny to semi-shaded situations and ordinary soil without too much limestone, sandy or even rocky and well-drained. It is an excellent rockery plant and a perfect ground cover. Its stems root as it spreads and it will spread over the years, sometimes becoming invasive. To overcome this, grow it in a restricted space, such as a rock crevice. It can be planted on the edge of flower beds and borders, in light woodland, or in pots on a terrace or balcony. It will be the ideal companion for shrub roses, enhancing their base. It can be associated with other rockery plants, such as dwarf asters, helianthemums, perennial geraniums, carnations or even vergerettes. A harmony of white and green can be achieved by combining these plants.