False Daisy
Eclipta prostrata
Also listed as Eclipta alba, Eclipta erecta
Also known as Bhringraj, White Eclipta, White Twinheads
Climate Match for your location
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False Daisy is a low-growing, spreading annual groundcover with small white flowers and dark green foliage that forms a dense mat. It is adaptable, fast-growing, and commonly used as a medicinal herb in traditional systems.
Why grow it
False Daisy establishes quickly as a living mulch or erosion control groundcover in warm climates where it tolerates poor soil and drought better than many competing species. Unlike some delicate groundcovers, it handles foot traffic and compacted soils reasonably well. It serves dual purposes as an edible and medicinal herb in permaculture systems, though its culinary applications are modest compared to more widely adopted species.
Watch out for
In areas with consistent moisture and high fertility, False Daisy can become vigorous enough to outcompete slower-growing plants in adjacent beds, so placement matters in small garden spaces. The plant prefers warm conditions and may decline or disappear entirely over winter in cooler zones, making it less reliable as a permanent groundcover in temperate regions. Its sprawling habit means it requires occasional pruning or management to prevent it from smothering nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Tropical and subtropical Americas, Africa, and Asia
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
False Daisy is a low-growing, spreading annual groundcover with small white flowers and dark green foliage that forms a dense mat. It is adaptable, fast-growing, and commonly used as a medicinal herb in traditional systems.
Climate Match for your location
See how well False Daisy grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
False Daisy establishes quickly as a living mulch or erosion control groundcover in warm climates where it tolerates poor soil and drought better than many competing species. Unlike some delicate groundcovers, it handles foot traffic and compacted soils reasonably well. It serves dual purposes as an edible and medicinal herb in permaculture systems, though its culinary applications are modest compared to more widely adopted species.
Watch out for
In areas with consistent moisture and high fertility, False Daisy can become vigorous enough to outcompete slower-growing plants in adjacent beds, so placement matters in small garden spaces. The plant prefers warm conditions and may decline or disappear entirely over winter in cooler zones, making it less reliable as a permanent groundcover in temperate regions. Its sprawling habit means it requires occasional pruning or management to prevent it from smothering nearby plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asteraceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Tropical and subtropical Americas, Africa, and Asia
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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