''Dymondia'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nom ...

of flowering plants in the daisy family. There is only one known species, '' Dymondia margaretae,''

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the

Cape Province The Province of the Cape of Good Hope ( af, Provinsie Kaap die Goeie Hoop), commonly referred to as the Cape Province ( af, Kaapprovinsie) and colloquially as The Cape ( af, Die Kaap), was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequen ...

region of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

Cultivation

* Light: full sun, part shade * Habit: 2 inches high, spreads to make a carpet like ground cover. * Water: very drought tolerant. Water may be needed at higher temperatures. The deep roots act as water wells providing water to the plant as needed. The dymondia carpet normally appears green/silver in color, but when roots are depleted and the plant needs water the leaves curl and their silver undersides are exposed to view. Water as needed in the silver colored areas to uncurl the leaves and return to green/silver color. * Cold hardiness: 20 °F * Heat Tolerance: no known * Origin: South Africa * Soil: Very sandy – Soil mix of 40% vegetative matter, 30% red lava sand and 30% river sand. Perlite can be added to the mix as needed and provides faster growing in flats and pots. Makes a flat, very drought tolerant ground cover and good lawn replacement in dry zones. Takes heavy foot traffic and often called living cement. Works well as a filler between flagstone, pavers, or stepping stones and other confined areas. Soil retention: Excellent on slopes an hills due to the large diameter and deep root system.Succulents and More, Gerhard Bock, Silver carpet (''Dymondia margaretae'')
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References

Monotypic Asteraceae genera Endemic flora of South Africa Arctotideae {{Cichorioideae-stub