Silver Mound

Where to Plant

• Sunlight: Give this plant full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct light daily. While it can survive in partial shade, it often gets "leggy" and flops open in the center if it doesn't get enough intensity.
• Soil: Excellent drainage is the most critical factor for Silver Mound. It actually prefers "poor" or sandy soil over rich, fertile earth; if the soil is too heavy or nutrient-dense, the tight mound will loosen and split apart.

Watering Requirements

When you first plant Silver Mound, water it thoroughly and keep the soil slightly moist for the first few weeks to help the roots settle. Once established, this is one of the most drought-tolerant plants you can own. In fact, you should be more careful about overwatering than underwatering. If you water too frequently or let it sit in wet soil, the foliage will yellow and the roots will rot.

Pruning Tips

Think of pruning Silver Mound like a necessary haircut to keep it from having a "bad hair day" in the humid summer. In early spring, trim back any dead winter growth. The most important cut happens in mid-summer (usually July) when the mound might start to look loose or open up in the center: shear the whole plant back by half. This forces fresh, tight growth and prevents the plant from splitting open like a donut.

Fertilizer Needs

You generally should skip fertilizing this plant. Silver Mound thrives on neglect and actually performs worse when pampered with plant food. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers specifically, as they will cause the stems to grow too fast and weak, ruining that perfect, compact cushion shape you bought it for.