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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Convolvulaceae (Morning-glories) |
| Origin: South Africa (Africa) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Light Pink |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Summer |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Width: Spreading |
| Exposure: Sun or Shade |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
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Falkia repens (Little Ears) A lush fast growing and long lived evergreen groundcover that forms a solid carpet 2 to 6 inches tall and spreading outward on stems that root at their nodes with tightly held glossy green and slightly succulent inch wide leaves that are cupped and held upright so the rounded leaf tips appear a bit like small green ears. The half inch wide white flowers with light pink blushing are produced abundantly from spring through early summer. Plant in full sun to part shade in a well-draining soil and give regular to occasional irrigation, though it is known to tolerate drier conditions and rebound with winter rains. Hardy and evergreen in USDA Zone 9-10 and comes back from the roots in colder locations and can be grown down to USDA Zone 7. This groundcover is great in solid stands, between stepping stones, flowing over rocks or walls and it covers fast, looks great year round and even suppresses weeds. It is attractive to bees and other insects. It is native to the winter-rainfall areas of the Eastern Cape of South Africa where it often found on damp or temporarily inundated soils. The name for the genus honors John Peter Falck (Joannis Petri Falk) an 18th century Swedish professor of botany. The specific epithet means 'creeping' in reference to this plants form. Its Afrikaner name is Oortjies which translates as "little ears".
This information about Falkia repens displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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