Scleranthus biflorus

Common Name:
Cushion Plant

Description:
Scleranthus biflorus, commonly known as Cushion Plant, is a unique and visually striking Australian native ground cover valued for its moss-like appearance and dense, evergreen mat-forming habit. Its soft, bright lime-green foliage forms low, spongy cushions that hug the ground and create a lush, textural carpet ideal for Japanese, rock, or native garden designs. Despite its delicate look, Scleranthus biflorus is hardy and low maintenance, thriving in full sun to part shade with well-drained soils. It prefers consistent moisture but does not tolerate waterlogging, making it a great choice for raised beds, rockeries, between pavers, or even green roof designs. Tiny, inconspicuous greenish flowers may appear in spring and summer but are not the main attraction. Particularly well suited to Melbourne's climate, Cushion Plant offers vibrant year-round greenery, weed suppression, and a soft, sculptural ground-hugging form.

Form:
*Ground Cover
*Shrub – Clumping / Grass-like / Mounding

Mature Size:
*Height: 2–5 cm
*Width: 30–60 cm (can spread further in ideal conditions)

Aspect:
*Full Sun
*Part Shade

Flowering:
*Flowers in Spring
*Flowers in Summer

Flower Colour:
*Green (tiny and inconspicuous)

Key Attributes:
*Australian native
*Suitable for Pots
*Perennial
*Low Maintenance
*Weed Suppressing
*Excellent for Rockeries and Japanese Gardens
*Moss-like Appearance
*Soft Textural Ground Cover
*Frost Tolerant (light)
*Prefers Moist, Well-Drained Soil
*Not Suitable for High Traffic Areas

Toxicity:
*Non-toxic to humans
*Non-toxic to pets

Companion Plants:
*Leptinella squalida
*Dianella ‘Little Jess’
*Brachyscome multifida
*Ophiopogon japonicus (Mondo Grass)
*Viola hederacea