Plant identification

August 6, 2006 8:52 AM

What is this lovely groundcover?

Can you help me identify this awesome groundcover? This picture was taken in the Portland, Oregon area. It's survived a couple of freezes. The picture with the quarter is for scale; the leaves are quite tiny.

I would love to identify it, and hopefully find somewhere in the Portland area to buy it. Failing that, maybe I could find seeds online? Thanks for any help!

posted by peep to science & nature (7 comments total)

Wow, those are some pretty awesome ferns. Wish I knew what they were. This could be some help but probably not much.
posted by musicinmybrain at 9:49 AM on August 6, 2006

Leptinella squalida?
posted by sarahw at 10:12 AM on August 6, 2006

More Leptinella squalida. I think the jagged edges on the upper sides of the leaflets are a giveaway that sarahw has it right.

Wow. I'm impressed.

I'm also amazed that this is not a true fern.
posted by musicinmybrain at 10:27 AM on August 6, 2006

That is really pretty. It makes me want to take a nap on it. Though I would probably awaken with a slug on my face. sigh.
posted by Baby_Balrog at 10:38 AM on August 6, 2006

Thank you, sarahw! And musicinmybrain's link definitely looks like the stuff in my friend's yard, the source of my photos. Off to find a way to get some!
posted by peep at 8:57 PM on August 6, 2006

It's really likely that I'm wrong, but I think northwest nurserys call this stuff bachelor's buttons. Or bishop's buttons. Or bastard's biscuits. You get the idea.
posted by carterk at 9:10 PM on August 6, 2006

For anyone who's interested in the PDX metro area, Farmington Gardens carries it. I just bought them out (18 four-inch pots at $2.49 each), but I'm sure they will be replenished soon. BTW, their online catalog doesn't list it, but they do carry it. And the common name is Brass Buttons. They carry the green version and the Platt's Black. Thanks again, sarahw.
posted by peep at 4:13 PM on August 7, 2006