Spiderling: The Humble Native Ground Cover You’ve Been Overlooking
If you’ve ever wondered about those sprawling plants with tiny flowers that seem to pop up everywhere in warmer climates, you’ve probably encountered spiderling (Boerhavia). This unassuming native annual has been quietly doing its thing across much of North America, and it might just be the low-maintenance ground cover your garden has been waiting for.
What Exactly Is Spiderling?
Spiderling is a native annual plant that belongs to the four o’clock family. True to its twining nature, this plant spreads across the ground with relatively long stems that can be either woody or herbaceous, creating a sprawling carpet effect. Don’t expect showy blooms – spiderling keeps things subtle with small, delicate flowers that range from white to pink to magenta.
Where Spiderling Calls Home
This adaptable native has quite the geographic range! You’ll find spiderling naturally occurring across an impressive swath of the United States, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. It also extends its range to various U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and several Pacific islands.
Why Consider Spiderling for Your Garden?
Here’s where spiderling really shines – it’s the ultimate low-maintenance native plant. If you’re tired of babying high-maintenance garden plants, spiderling might be your new best friend. Here are some compelling reasons to give it a try:
- Extremely drought tolerant once established
- Thrives in poor soils where other plants struggle
- Provides ground cover in challenging areas
- Supports small pollinators and beneficial insects
- Self-seeds readily for natural garden expansion
- Perfect for naturalized and xerophytic garden designs
Growing Spiderling Successfully
The beauty of spiderling lies in its simplicity. This plant practically grows itself, but here are some tips to help you succeed:
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Sunlight: Full sun is best, though it can tolerate some light shade
- Soil: Well-draining soil is essential – it actually prefers poor to average soil
- Water: Drought tolerant once established; avoid overwatering
- Climate: Thrives in USDA hardiness zones 8-11
Planting and Care Tips
Spiderling is refreshingly easy to grow. You can direct sow seeds in spring after the last frost, or simply let existing plants self-seed naturally. The plant will sprawl and spread, creating a natural ground cover effect. Since it’s an annual, it will complete its life cycle in one growing season, but don’t worry – it’s excellent at reseeding itself for next year’s show.
Minimal care is required once established. In fact, too much attention (especially overwatering or over-fertilizing) can actually harm this tough little native. Just plant it and let it do its thing!
Garden Design Ideas
Spiderling works beautifully in several garden styles:
- Desert and drought-tolerant gardens: Perfect companion for other xerophytic plants
- Naturalized areas: Great for letting parts of your landscape go wild
- Rock gardens: Excellent for filling spaces between rocks and stones
- Native plant gardens: A humble but important component of native ecosystems
Supporting Local Wildlife
While spiderling might not be the showiest plant in your garden, it punches above its weight when it comes to supporting local wildlife. The small flowers attract various beneficial insects and small pollinators, making it a valuable addition to any wildlife-friendly garden.
The Bottom Line
Spiderling might not win any beauty contests, but it’s a champion when it comes to being a reliable, low-maintenance native ground cover. If you’re looking to add more native plants to your landscape, support local wildlife, and reduce your garden maintenance workload, this humble annual deserves a spot in your garden. Sometimes the best plants are the ones that quietly do their job without demanding much attention – and spiderling fits that bill perfectly.
