Translate this page:

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Sphagneticola trilobata is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Complaya trilobata (L.) Strother. Silphium trilobatum L. Thelechitonia trilobata (L.) H.Rob. & Cuatrec. Wedelia carnosa Rich. Wedelia paludosa DC. Wedelia trilobata (L.) Hitchc.

Habitats

Edible Uses

None Known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

A strong decoction of the whole plant is used to treat severe chest colds[348 ]. It is combined with Lantana camara, as a tea or syrup, as a remedy for colds[348 ]. The leaves are included in a cough and cold remedy along with the boiled leaves of Commelina nudiflora or Hibiscus sabdariffa, and sometime also Citrus aurantiifolia[348 ]. The plant contains acetylenes and derivatives of kaurenic acid[348 ].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Now available: PLANTS FOR YOUR FOOD FOREST: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens.

An important new book from PFAF. It focuses on the attributes of plants suitable for food forests, what each can contribute to a food forest ecosystem, including carbon sequestration, and the kinds of foods they yield. The book suggests that community and small-scale food forests can provide a real alternative to intensive industrialised agriculture, and help to combat the many inter-related environmental crises that threaten the very future of life on Earth.

Other Uses

Agroforestry Uses: An interesting ground cover plant for warm locations. The stems are brittle and break easily, so should be kept away from foot traffic[423 ]. The plant can tolerate light pedestrian traffic[200 ]. Other Uses: ornamental. It is one of the few ground cover plants that can survive central Arizona desert combination of extreme heat and sun at ground level.

Special Uses

Ground Cover

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it can be found at elevations up to 700 metres[413 ]. A long-lived perennial herb with a creeping prostrate scrambling or climbing habit. This mat-forming stoloniferous plant often creates a dense ground cover (usually 15-30 cm tall but occasionally up to 70 cm tall) that crowds out the growth of other species. It may also climb a short distance up trees or over other vegetation.Plant tops can be killed by frosts, but the roots will survive at least some frost and regrow with warmer weather[423 ]. Succeeds in full sun to moderate shade, flowering more heavily in a sunny position[413 , 423 ]. Succeeds in most soil types[413 ]. Prefers a well-drained soil, but is very tolerant, succeeding in dry and moist conditions, tolerating inundation and withstanding drought[413 , 423 ]. The plant is very salt-resistant, growing well near the sea[413 , 423 ]. Often cultivated as an ornamental, the plant readily escapes from gardens and forms a dense ground cover, crowding out or preventing regeneration of other species. In plantations, it will compete with crops for nutrients, light and water, and reduce crop yields[413 ].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

Shop Now

Propagation

Seed, Division, Cuttings. Tip cuttings are very easy[423 ].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Bay Biscayne creeping oxeye, Bay Biscayne creeping-oxeye, creeping daisy, creeping ox eye, creeping ox-eye, creeping oxeye, creeping wedelia, rabbit's paw, Singapore daisy, trailing daisy, wedelia, yellow dots

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

The IUCN has listed S. trilobata in its 100 of the world's worst invasive alien species and the Florida Exotic Plant Pest Council classified it as a category II invader. This species continues to be available as an ornamental and is therefore likely to spread further.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Expert comment

Author

(L.) Pruski

Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

Sphagneticola trilobata - (L.) Pruski