Best known as mind-your-own-business, this species is from the western Mediterranean. It is a pretty, but deceptively quick-growing, evergreen perennial plant, which forms a low, creeping mat. It has delicate, intricately branching, almost translucent stems that root as they spread, and tiny, short-stalked, bright green leaves.
Minute, solitary flowers are borne in the leaf axils. Positioned at the front of a mixed arrangement, it is an attractive way of hiding the container or softening the front edge. Baby’s tears, angel’s tears, and Irish moss are other popular names for this species. S.s. ‘Aurea’ has golden- green leaves and S.s. ‘Variegata’ has silver-variegated leaves.
Size: Height 2 in. (5 cm), spread limited only by the container.
Light: Indirect sunlight.
Temperature: Cool.
Moisture: Keep moist at all times.
Feeding: Give half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks in spring and summer.
Propagation: Divide rooted clumps.
Special needs: Although this looks like an ideal plant for a bottle garden or terrarium, it is actually much too invasive and will swamp the other plants. Trim with scissors to keep it under control in a pot.