Heart-leaved mouse-ear Plant Care

Heart-leaved mouse-ear (Cerastium cordifolium) belongs to the Caryophyllaceae family within the Cerastium genus. Heart-leaved mouse-ear is native to moist habitats in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, and has been introduced to many places in the tropics and subtropics, including the southeast US, the Caribbean, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Japan, and a number of islands. Heart-leaved mouse-ear is also known as Snow-in-summer.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear displays a low mat-forming groundcover growth habit, reaching up to 0.5 ft tall with a spread of approximately 1.5 ft. Heart-leaved mouse-ear produces small white or pink flowers in clusters.

Leaf size: approximately 1 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Heart-leaved mouse-ear every 7–10 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established shrubs mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Cerastium cordifolium tolerates temperatures of 50–75°F. Heart-leaved mouse-ear prefers humidity levels of 40–60%.

Well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Good drainage is essential for Heart-leaved mouse-ear to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Heart-leaved mouse-ear every month during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established shrubs in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy loam with added organic matter. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear is suited to USDA Zone 8b – 11b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped shrubs in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear can spread to about 2 ft (0.5 m) and reach about 1 ft (0 m) tall. Space plants about 2 ft (0.5 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the plant spacing calculator.

Prune Heart-leaved mouse-ear while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the shrub in one year.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear is hardy down to USDA zone 8b, so once established it can stay outdoors through winter in that zone and warmer ones.

Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.

Young and container-grown shrubs need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear can be propagated through seeds, division of clumps. Similar propagation techniques also apply to small-flowered mouse-ear plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear is susceptible to aphids, spider mites, slugs. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Heart-leaved mouse-ear grows outdoors in USDA Zone 8b – 11b. It survives winters down to planting zone 8b. Heart-leaved mouse-ear is native to moist habitats in Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa, and has been introduced to many places in the tropics and subtropics, including the southeast US, the Caribbean, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Japan, and a number of islands.