Spermacoce glabra
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Spermacoce glabra

Smooth buttonweed · Smooth false buttonweed · Buttonweed

Tier 2 Difficulty: medium Water: low Light: partial_sun
Temperature
15–37 °C
Soil pH
6–8
Hardiness
Zone 8–11
Click count
23
Observations
30

Description

Source: leafsnap

Spermacoce glabra, smooth false buttonweed, is a New World species of plants in the coffee family.The species is widespread across much of North America and South America. In the United States, it is found in the southern part of the Mississippi Valley from Illinois to Louisiana, the range extending westward into Texas, Oklahoma and eastern Kansas, and eastward along the Ohio River. Isolated populations are reported from farther east, in Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The species also occurs in southern Mexico (Tabasco and Campeche), Honduras, and South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and Argentina).

Care Guide

💧 Water

Smooth false buttonweed originates from tropical regions and thrives in environments with consistent moisture and high humidity. To maintain its evergreen foliage, it requires weekly watering that mimics its natural climate conditions. Adequate water is crucial for its growth, particularly when grown outdoors, where it can also take advantage of natural rainfall.

☀️ Light Partial sun

Smooth false buttonweed occurs naturally in habitats like forest understories or rocky areas, where it is subject to natural shade. It prefers partial sun but can also tolerate full sun or full shade, reflecting its versatile and hardy nature.

Ideal: Partial sun
🌡️ Temperature 15–37.8°C

Smooth false buttonweed comes from tropical areas, where the weather is typically warm and humid. Therefore it is well suited to high temperatures and humidity. It does not tolerate sudden temperature changes and prefers a steady temperature, so avoiding fluctuations indoors is important. It generally cannot withstand cold and needs higher temperatures to grow. If temperatures fall too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 15–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 6-8
Soil pH: 6-8
🌱 Fertilizer

Smooth false buttonweed requires the most fertilizer during its active growth period, which takes place mainly in spring, summer, and early fall. Fertilization supplies essential nutrients that the soil may be lacking, supporting healthy root and stem growth and encouraging attractive foliage, a key characteristic of this plant.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

To promote healthy growth in smooth false buttonweed, it's important to prune it at the right times, specifically in early and late spring. Make sure to remove any dead branches, maintain the plant's shape, and improve air circulation. This will help minimize pests. Always use sanitized tools to prevent the spread of disease. For more detailed pruning techniques, refer to gardening guides.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Herb
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Spermacoce
Family
Rubiaceae
Hardiness Zone
8-11
Mature Height
30 cm to 61 cm
Mature Spread
20 cm to 40 cm
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
White
Flower Size
0.25 cm to 0.51 cm
Bloom Time
Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
Planting Time
Spring, Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall, Early winter
Native Area
Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela

Tags (6)

Common Names (3)

en Smooth buttonweed
en Smooth false buttonweed
en Buttonweed