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Smooth Rupturewort
Herniaria glabra
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout Smooth Rupturewort
Rupturewort or Green Carpet is a European groundcover reaching just 1-2 inches tall, forming a tight bright green mat of tiny smooth leaves that turns reddish-bronze in cold weather. Essentially flowerless to the naked eye — tiny greenish flowers are inconspicuous. Extremely walkable and tolerant of poor soils, heat, cold, and foot traffic, making it an ideal lawn alternative between pavers or as a tiny-scale groundcover.
- Drought-tolerant
- Cold-hardy
- Groundcover
- Fall-color
How to care for Smooth Rupturewort
Watering
- Springevery 10 days
- Summerevery 14 days
- Fallevery 21 days
- Winterevery 30 days
Soil · Well-draining
- Top dressingPine bark mulch10%
- Main mixPotting soil + perlite 2:170%
- DrainageLECA / gravel20%
Never skip the drainage layer — standing water is the top cause of root rot.
FERTILIZER
This plant needs little to no feeding.
At a Glance
- NativeEurope, Mediterranean, East Asia
- Height0.1–0.3 ft (0–0.1 m)
- Spread0.5–1.5 ft (0.2–0.5 m)
- Flower colorGreen
- Foliage colorGreen, Bronze
- SoilSandy, Well-drained
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Jun–Aug
Inconspicuous greenish flowers June to August
Toxicity
Humans Slight
saponins, flavonoids, and coumarins
Slight
- Leaf
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating leaves.
EFFECT Mild gastrointestinal upset.
NOTE Documented concern for humans: Mild gastrointestinal upset.
Not reported
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE No toxicity is reported for dogs in this catalog; this is not evidence that the plant is edible or harmless.
Not reported
EXPOSURE No exposure route is reported.
EFFECT No toxic effect is reported.
NOTE No toxicity is reported for cats in this catalog; this is not evidence that the plant is edible or harmless.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- Introduced
- Europe
- Mediterranean
- East Asia
History
Herniaria glabra, smooth rupturewort or green carpet, is a low-growing evergreen perennial in the pink family, native to much of Europe, the Mediterranean basin, North Africa, and temperate Asia. Carl Linnaeus described it in Species Plantarum in 1753.
Both the genus name Herniaria and the common name rupturewort refer to its old European medicinal reputation for treating hernias and urinary complaints. The plant forms tiny bright green mats with minute summer flowers, and its foliage can bronze attractively in cold weather.
In modern gardens it is valued less as medicine than as a durable carpet. It tolerates poor soils, drought, and light foot traffic, making it useful between pavers, in low-water plantings, on green roofs, and as a small-scale lawn substitute.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Smooth Rupturewort is a study in resilience underfoot — a tight green mat that thrives precisely where feet, paws, and bicycle tires regularly pass over it. With autumn it undergoes a quiet Transformation, its summer green deepening into bronze and burgundy through winter. A tough, color-shifting carpet that turns hard wear into seasonal beauty.
- Resilience underfoot — thrives with foot traffic
- Transformation — green summer turns bronze winter
Where the Name Comes From
'Herniaria' comes from Latin 'hernia', an old folk-herbal reference; 'glabra' means smooth, referring to the leaves.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Tight green mat tolerates foot traffic between stepping stones
- Bronzes attractively in winter on dry banks
Related plants
Plants with similar care
Chinese AbeliaAbelia chinensis
Fragrant AbeliaAbelia mosanensis
Large-Flowered AbeliaAbelia uniflora
Glossy AbeliaAbelia x grandiflora
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Smooth Rupturewort?
In summer, water about every 14 days; in winter, about every 30 days. Adjust for heat, pot size and drainage.
How much light does Smooth Rupturewort need?
Full sun: 6+ hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Smooth Rupturewort toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Not reported (Dogs Not reported · Cats Not reported) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is Smooth Rupturewort easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does Smooth Rupturewort bloom?
It typically blooms Jun–Aug in the Northern Hemisphere.
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