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Dichondra carolinensis Michaux. Carolina Ponyfoot. Phen: Mar- Jun (-Feb). Hab: Lawns, roadsides, moist pinelands, mesic hammocks, floodplain forests. Dist: Se. VA south to s. FL, west to AR and TX; also in Bermuda and reported for the Bahamas; sometimes adventive beyond that range.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: This plant is rarely seen in a "natural" habitat, but is very common and weedy in lawns and other mowed grassy areas in the Southeastern Coastal Plain.

Synonymy : = Ar, Bah, C, Fl6, FNA14, GW2, Il, K1, K3, K4, NcTx, RAB, S, Tn, Tx, Va, WH3, Austin, Demissew, & Young (1998), Tharp & Johnston (1961); = Dichondra repens J.R.Forst. var. carolinensis (Michx.) Choisy – F, G, Wilson (1960b)

Links to other floras: = Dichondra carolinensis - FNA14

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW
  • Great Plains: FAC
  • Midwest: FAC
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACW

Heliophily : 7

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image of plant© Sequoia Janirella Wrens, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Sequoia Janirella Wrens source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© drnancyjackson, some rights reserved (CC BY) source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Creeping, mat-forming perennial of lawns, roadsides and moist pinelands; rarely seen in natural habitats.

Stems: Stems horizontal below and above the soil surface, rooting at the nodes, green or purplish-red, soft-hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, rounded or kidney-shaped, 3/8-1 1/4 in. wide, palmately veined, principle veins raised on the lower surface, commonly hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils, greenish-white, less than 1/8 in. wide, the corolla bell-shaped with 5 rounded lobes, the calyx with 5 longer sepals bearing long hairs on the outer surface.

Fruits: Fruit a tiny, 2-lobed capsule.

Comments:

Height: 1-2 in.

plant sale text: Carolina ponyfoot is a creeping, mat-forming perennial rarely seen in its native moist pineland habitat. However, it is often found along roadsides or used in lawns as a groundcover. Its kidney-shaped leaves overlap to form dense cover, and small, white flowers bloom from spring through the summer. It grows best in loose, well-drained soil that is receives regular, thorough watering.

bloom table text:

description: Creeping, mat-forming perennial of lawns, roadsides and moist pinelands; rarely seen in natural habitats.

stems: Stems horizontal below and above the soil surface, rooting at the nodes, green or purplish-red, soft-hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, rounded or kidney-shaped, 3/8-1 1/4 in. wide, palmately veined, principle veins raised on the lower surface, commonly hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary in leaf axils, greenish-white, less than 1/8 in. wide, the corolla bell-shaped with 5 rounded lobes, the calyx with 5 longer sepals bearing long hairs on the outer surface.

fruits: Fruit a tiny, 2-lobed capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: southeastern United States