Smothering groundcover

Weed risk high due to its smothering, groundcover effect. Callisia from the Greek kallos meaning beauty and repens means spreading, creeping. Also known as Turtle Vine, Itsy Bitsy Inch Vine, Baby’s Tears, Creeping Inch Plant and Creeping Basket Plant. It multiplies and spreads extremely quickly creating a mat of leaves that are green above and sometimes purple below with purple stems. Self mulching, the carpet it produces is not too difficult to remove. Commelinaceae are also known as the spiderwort family. The stems of these plants are generally well-developed, and often swollen at the nodes. Flowers are short-lived, lasting for a day or less. Callisia is native to America from the south-east of the United States (Texas, Florida) via the West Indies (Guadeloupe and Martinique) to Argentina. It grows in shady, rocky or gravelly spots in subtropical to tropical forests. One of the 12 worst weeds in Enoggera catchment.

Photo: Robert Whyte

Habit. Photo: Robert Whyte