Baby's tears (Soleirolia soleirolii)

Overview

Soleirolia soleirolii, commonly known as Baby’s tears, is highly valued for its incredibly dense, vibrant green foliage that spreads quickly across the ground like a living green carpet. This creeping, mat-forming perennial offers exceptional texture, making it a standout choice for shaded areas where few other groundcovers thrive. Its charming appearance and low stature make it beneficial for softening hard edges in the landscape.

Originating from the islands of the Western Mediterranean, Baby’s tears forms a low mat, only reaching 1-2 inches high but potentially spreading rapidly outwards via fragile, rooting stems. While it does produce tiny, creamy white blooms in late spring, the primary ornamental appeal of Soleirolia soleirolii is undeniably its lush, moss-like visual effect.

This plant performs admirably as a groundcover, in rock gardens, or utilized as a delightful houseplant, provided high humidity is maintained. Gardeners must be aware that while relatively easy to uproot initially, any stray stem fragment left behind can regenerate, making its placement in the garden a decision requiring careful consideration.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Urticaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Native Range: Western Mediterranean
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 9-11
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 0.25-0.5 ft
  • Spread: 3-6 ft
• Bloom Time: May to June
• Bloom Description: Creamy white
• Sun Exposure: Part shade to full shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

Planting Baby’s tears thrives when placed in rich, organic, and consistently moist but well-drained soils. Ensure the location offers part shade to full shade; direct sunlight is intolerable and will scorch the delicate foliage. Ideal climates feature cooler temperatures, with daytime highs around 60-65°F and nights near 50-55°F, as plants are intolerant of frost.

Watering Soleirolia soleirolii requires consistency—water freely during the summer months to maintain that desirable moist environment. During winter, reduce watering but ensure the soil remains slightly moist, particularly if growing outdoors in Zone 9 where foliage may drop due to frost. This plant enjoys high humidity, making it an excellent choice for shaded terraces or as an indoor plant.

Maintenance for this aggressive spreader is moderate; while it rarely suffers from serious pest or disease issues, controlling its spread is part of the required upkeep. In USDA Zones 10-11, the foliage remains evergreen, but in Zone 9, expect deciduous behavior over winter, with vigorous new growth returning in the spring. Avoid planting where foot traffic occurs, as Soleirolia soleirolii is intolerant of being stepped on.

Landscape Uses

The dense, low-growing habit of Baby’s tears makes it an exceptional choice for use as a Mediterranean low spreading mat-forming groundcover. Its soft texture contrasts beautifully against the sharp lines of stone pathways or tucked into crevices within rock gardens. It excels where a creeping edge is needed, such as defining the borders of shade gardens or cascading gently over the sides of containers.

When designing a woodland or shade garden, plant Soleirolia soleirolii underneath taller shade lovers like ferns or hostas. Its fine texture complements larger leaves, creating levels of visual interest. Because it prefers consistent moisture, consider grouping it with other moisture-loving perennials that also appreciate shady conditions where their stems can spill attractively.

As an indoor subject, this plant works wonderfully in terrariums, where the high humidity mimics the moist conditions it prefers in its native habitat. The way the stems spill over the sides of containers enhances vertical interest, turning standard pots into miniature hanging gardens of lush green moss.

Flower Qualities

• Insignificant

Noteworthy Characteristics

Soleirolia soleirolii, commonly called baby’s tears, is admired for its creeping, mat-forming, evergreen nature, rooted in the nettle family and native to Corsica and Sardinia. Grown primarily for its ornamental foliage, it sends out small, brittle stems that produce shiny, rich green, rounded leaves, creating a dense, moss-like covering that spreads aggressively. Though it produces insignificant creamy white flowers in May and June, its defining characteristic is its ability to quickly blanket horizontal surfaces.

Tolerances

• Intolerant of foot traffic
• Intolerant of frost
• Intolerant of direct sun
• Intolerant of high temperatures
• Intolerant of droughty soils
• Intolerant of poorly-drained wet soils

Potential Problems

Soleirolia soleirolii generally avoids serious insect or disease problems, which contributes to its appeal as a low-maintenance border plant in ideal conditions. Gardeners growing this plant indoors should monitor for common issues that affect many houseplants, such as spider mites or scale, though these are uncommon outdoors. The primary management concern is its vigorous spreading nature; because any removed stem fragment can regenerate, absolute eradication requires diligence through thorough removal of all plant matter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Baby’s tears suitable for?

Baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) is suitable for outdoor growth in USDA Zones 9-11, where it provides evergreen coverage.

How large does Soleirolia soleirolii grow?

This groundcover typically stays very low, reaching only 0.25 to 0.5 feet in height, but it spreads aggressively, often reaching 3 to 6 feet wide.

What sun exposure does Baby’s tears need?

This plant requires protection from harsh light, performing best in part shade to full shade conditions. Direct sun should be avoided entirely to prevent leaf scorch.

When does Soleirolia soleirolii bloom?

It blooms between May and June, producing tiny, creamy white flowers that are considered ornamentally insignificant compared to its foliage.

Conclusion

Baby’s tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) offers unparalleled textural beauty, functioning perfectly as a brilliant, low-maintenance green carpet in shaded, moist garden areas. Its quick spread and delicate evergreen leaves establish it as a must-have for specialized groundcover needs. Before planting, verify your USDA hardiness zone compatibility and prepare rich, well-drained soil to encourage the best performance.

Companion Planting Under Shade

When planting Soleirolia soleirolii as a living mulch, selecting companions that share its love for moist, shaded environments ensures a unified, lush understory. Consider pairing it with shade-loving woodland plants such as Astilbe or Hosta, whose larger foliage provides a structural contrast to the fine texture of the Baby’s tears. Because both this plant and many ferns thrive in high humidity, placing them near ferns enhances the overall tropical, damp aesthetic desired in a shade garden setting.

Propagating and Controlling Spread

While Soleirolia soleirolii is known to spread indefinitely, propagation is remarkably simple, relying on the plant’s natural tendency to root along its stems. To increase coverage or rescue plants threatened by winter dips, simply take cuttings of the fragile stems and press them gently into moist soil in a shaded spot; they root very readily. For containment, placing a physical barrier or ensuring the soil boundary is clearly defined can help manage this enthusiastic creeper before it colonizes unwanted areas.