PlantFiles: Spanish Shawl, Pinklady
Dissotis rotundifolia

hi, looked this up hoping to find some CONTROL information. While I agree it is an attractive ground cover, it is also Very Invasive and very hard to get rid of once established. I live in Hawaii. I bought a house with an acre of dense trees, bushes and flowers - very nice. This S.Shawl was a cute little border around a banyan tree. It started spreading; I cut it back and threw the cuttings in the next (empty) lot. It spread more... and more.....and.... It covers grass, it covers flower beds, it doesn't stop. If you cut it back, it regrows in the same spot. If you dump (or accidently spread) cuttings, it starts growing there. My lot is covered, the next lot is covered, there are other lots in the area that are covered. Maybe this only happens in the tropics.

Also known as Trailing Tibouchina...

south east florida, zone 10-10a.

This plant excels in shade best.

In the sun it performs less vigorously, best with some shade and lots of water. The leaves will change color to red veins and harder looking appearance in sun, flowers less as well.

if you are looking for mossy look, or an old english garden look
this is your choice in shade.

I have mine grwoing on northside of home in shady side yard as a border, among autumn ferns. and jasimine, knock-out roses. doing quite well.

in florida we can grow tropicals well so tropical shady bulbs such as clivia does well mixed in too.

easily kept inside the border , when i use the trimmer.

some people call it the pink, saint johns wort flower... smiles

H. elegans is a great low (2") groundcover suitable for rock gardens. It is native to Mexico and Guatemala. Minimum temperature is about 35°F. Grows well in sun or shade, )but needs at least part sun to flower well.)