Waterbuttons: The Cheerful Ground Cover That’s Not for Every Garden
If you’ve ever wondered about those tiny, button-like yellow flowers carpeting roadsides and vacant lots, you’ve likely encountered waterbuttons (Cotula). This unassuming little plant has quietly made itself at home across North America, from Alaska to Florida, despite not being a native species. While it might not be the showiest addition to your garden, waterbuttons has some interesting qualities that make it worth understanding.
What Are Waterbuttons?
Waterbuttons, scientifically known as Cotula, is a low-growing forb that forms dense mats across the ground. Think of it as nature’s living carpet – it spreads readily and stays close to the earth, rarely reaching more than a few inches tall. As an annual or perennial (depending on conditions), this plant belongs to the group of non-woody plants that die back to ground level each year or complete their lifecycle within a single growing season.
The plant gets its common name from its distinctive small, round, button-shaped yellow flowers that dot the landscape like tiny golden coins scattered across a green blanket.
Where Does It Grow?
Originally hailing from other continents, waterbuttons has become naturalized across a surprisingly wide range of North American locations. You’ll find it growing wild in British Columbia, Alaska, New Brunswick, Arizona, California, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington.
This extensive distribution tells us something important about waterbuttons: it’s incredibly adaptable and has found ways to thrive in vastly different climates and conditions.
The Garden Question: To Plant or Not to Plant?
Here’s where things get interesting. While waterbuttons isn’t native to North America, it’s also not currently classified as invasive or noxious. This puts it in a gray area for gardeners who want to make environmentally conscious choices.
Potential Benefits
- Excellent ground cover that suppresses weeds
- Extremely low maintenance once established
- Drought tolerant, requiring minimal watering
- Attracts small beneficial insects
- Works well in difficult spots where other plants struggle
- Creates a uniform, carpet-like appearance
Things to Consider
- Not native, so it doesn’t support local ecosystems as well as indigenous plants
- Can spread aggressively, potentially crowding out other plants
- Limited wildlife value compared to native alternatives
- May not fit the aesthetic goals of formal or refined garden designs
Growing Waterbuttons Successfully
If you decide to work with waterbuttons, you’ll find it refreshingly easy to grow. This plant thrives in USDA hardiness zones 7-10, though it may behave as an annual in colder regions.
Ideal Growing Conditions
- Full sun to partial shade (adapts to various light conditions)
- Well-draining soil (tolerates poor soils)
- Minimal water requirements once established
- pH adaptable, though prefers slightly alkaline conditions
Planting and Care Tips
- Start from seed sown directly in spring or fall
- Space plants about 6-8 inches apart if transplanting
- Water regularly during establishment, then reduce significantly
- No fertilization needed – this plant thrives in lean conditions
- Mow or trim back if it spreads beyond desired areas
- Monitor for aggressive spreading, especially near natural areas
Design Ideas and Garden Roles
Waterbuttons works best in informal garden settings where its casual, naturalized appearance fits the overall design. Consider it for:
- Pathway edges and walkway borders
- Rock gardens and xeriscaping projects
- Areas too dry or poor for traditional lawn
- Slopes and erosion-prone areas
- Mediterranean-style gardens
- Wild or naturalized garden sections
Native Alternatives to Consider
If you’re drawn to waterbuttons but want to support native ecosystems, consider these indigenous ground covers instead:
- Wild strawberry (Fragaria species) for shaded areas
- Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) for sunny slopes
- Native sedges (Carex species) for various conditions
- Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) in appropriate regions
- Local native mints (Monarda species) for butterfly gardens
The Bottom Line
Waterbuttons represents one of those garden plants that exists in the middle ground – neither hero nor villain. While it won’t provide the ecological benefits of native species, it also isn’t causing documented environmental harm. If you need a tough, low-maintenance ground cover for challenging spots and can commit to keeping it contained, waterbuttons might serve your purposes well.
However, if you’re building a garden designed to support local wildlife and pollinators, investing in native ground covers will give you better long-term results and contribute to your local ecosystem’s health. The choice, as always, depends on your garden’s goals and your environmental priorities.
