Do not fear the dichondra. Our garden guru assures that Silver Falls is ideal for containers

When dichondras arrived on the scene, there was mostly fear and trepidation, maybe even some disdain because a glance at most herbicide labels state that they will help control or eliminate dichondra. So, they must be bad news. Yikes!

Alas, dichondras happen to grow fast and can take over if not managed well.

Last week's column:The Queen rules with elegance in this year’s mixed containers

Garden Guru:Persimmon petunias can perpetuate a plant panic in the garden

But the Garden Guy did a pulse-rate check on the gardening public by posting a most uncomfortable, if not challenging photo on my Facebook page of a planting done by my son, James, the guru of color design. The picture featured long trails of Proven Accents, Silver Falls dichondra tumbling several feet out of the basket planted with Heart to Heart, Fast Flash caladiums. (I can hear your first response, "You can’t put caladiums in a basket.")

Had I reached 75,000 gardeners on my Facebook post, I would have been elated. The fact that the post reached right at 450,000 was an absolute shocker. Everyone began asking where they could get Silver Falls. I thoughts, "Oh baby, this is going to be a great garden year," as Silver Falls is the ultimate artistic plant.

Silver Falls dichondra, known botanically as Dichondra argentea, is a Proven Winners Proven Accent plant and represents the crème de la crème, so to speak, for mixed containers, hayracks and even hanging baskets all across the country. It's now the mandatory plant for hanging gardens at the finest shopping centers. One extra fun thing is it won the Best Performer Award at the Cincinnati Zoo.

Ways to plant and maintain Silver Falls dichondra

Silver Falls is practically fool proof to grow. If growing in a mixed container, choose a good light airy potting mix with good water and nutrient holding capacity. There is no fuss or muss; insect or disease pressures are practically non-existent, and no pinching is required. Silver Falls even recovers quickly if wilted.

Whatever the mixed container or basket planting you are creating, finish it by adding the silver leaf, Silver Falls dichondra. Partner it with Supertunia petunias and Superbells calibrachoas. Let it intermingle and fall southward in a mix with Luscious Grape lantana. If you are thinking about using an exotic bromeliad in a container, let Silver Falls be a part of the mix.

Silver Falls also offers you a wonderful opportunity to use it as a small patch of ground cover in the landscape. It forms a dense mat able to cover or choke out most weeds. Whether you are using it in containers or as a ground cover its stark contrast in color and leaf texture are outstanding traits. Two to 4 inches high with a spread up to 4 feet plus, is a remarkable growth habit.

This looks to be an exciting year for gardeners everywhere with plant choices, one thing for certain is that incorporating plants like the Proven Accents, Silver Falls dichondra into your designs will be like adding your signature to the painting.

Follow Norman Winter on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy for more photos and garden inspiration. See more columns by Norman at SavannahNow.com/lifestyle/home-garden/.