PlantFiles: Rabbit's Paw, Creeping Daisy, Water Zinnia
Sphagneticola trilobata

I have a property in the Tropical North Queensland rainforest, some of it marginal wetland. This plant, if left unchecked, will cover everything!
Only in areas where there is no sunlight and permanent groundwater will anything else under 1 metre high survive unless continual clearing is maintained!

It is a source of continual frustration to me, especially when it rains here for four weeks at a time.

It does mow well, and half my front paddock looks great, the half where Singapore Daisy has taken over. Don't plant it in warm areas!

Yes it will spread will quickly! Roundup will NOT kill it! I use hyvar to keep it under control or pull up new runners! It's beautiful in bloom! Good erosion control, but beware!
DonnaV

In Cairns Australia this plant is commonly known as Singapore Daisy. It was introduced to the area only about 25 years ago and has proved to be very invasive, covering large areas of roadside, riverbank, drains, and other open space, and even grows as a ground cover in some open forest areas. Unfortunately the authorities continue to ignore its presence and virtually nothing is being done to control its spread. Never plant this species in the ground in a wet tropical area.

I am living in Belize, and my friend, who knows a lot about native plants, says that rabbit's paw is great for arthritis, rheumatism, etc. You mash it into a paste and rub it where the pain is (exterior). It grows wild here everywhere.

I grew this as a water plant, about 3" deep in a whiskey barrel this summer. It bloomed most of the summer and trailed over the sides of the barrel to nice effect. This weekend I gave it to my sister who lives in a more temperate climate on the other side of the mountains to put in her pond as we are getting frost here now.

San Antonio, TX
I have Wedelia trilobata, which is native to Mexico, South America, West Africa and the West Indies and has become naturalized in Hawaii, Loiusiana, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. mine are planted in an old 20 inch in diameter, 4 inch deep pan (with drainage holes). It is in an area that has no inground plantings. Tall containers hold other plants and are about 3 feet away from the Wedelia trilobata pan. Mulch is 3 to 4 inches deep around the pan and containers. The Wedelia trilobata radiates in all directions filling in the spaces between the containers and growing past them, but does not bother the container plants and does not root because of the mulch. I prune the runners which are heading toward the grass. It makes this area look very lush and provides constant color with its yellow blooms from late spring until a hard freeze comes along. It dies back and re-emerges in the early spring. I have not had any plants come up from seed. I had read that it is an evergreen, but was disappointed that it is not.

I am glad to find out that it is hard to get rid of if planted in a flowerbed because I was just about to root it in some of my beds. At least it does not have underground rhizomes which would make it even harder to control. I gave a friend of mine some cuttings. She planted them in a very tall container and sat the container 4 feet above the ground. The Wedelia trilobata filled in the container and is all the way to the ground. It is just beautiful. I just had to make a comment because I love this plant. I guess one has to be careful where one plants it. It is good for soil retention and erosion control. It may be mowed.

It is also used as a creeping bog plant because its thick horizontal stems with numerous branches grow in all directions across water or mud. It is a good filtering agent because the roots are produced at intervals along the stem, grow into open water and absorb nutrients directly from the water; thus, the amount of algae is decreased because the Wedelia trilobata is using up the nutrients.

This species has been used to treat infections, indigestion, hepatitis and to clear the placenta after birth. NOTE: After grazing on it, farm animals have aborted fetuses.

Crushed leaves can be employed as a poultice and tea is given to alleviate symptoms of colds and flu. I would advise it not be ingested by pregnant women!!

A site in Australia states that a metsulfuron methyl herbicide plus a surfactant can be sprayed on the plant to eradicate it, with subsequent respraying of stems that were not killed the first time. Of course, if not careful, it may kill other desirable plants along with it, but I do not know having never used it.

This plant is terribly invasive and aggressive. It roots at every node and, therefore, is nearly impossible to control chemically. it will spread over a large area in a short period of time and, at my place, crawled over a 6-foot wooden fence. A thin mist of diesel oil seems to be the only thing that will defer it for any extended period of time.