Nertera granadensis aka English Babytears

Nertera granadensis is a low, mat-forming plant in the Rubiaceae family. Gardeners also call it bead plant, coral moss, or coral plant. It lives for more than one year. Kew classes its growth form as a subshrub. Its native range spans Madagascar, parts of Asia, and the Pacific. It also includes the Caribbean, Mexico, and southern South America. The range extends to subantarctic islands. It is not native to Britain or Ireland.

Its stems spread along the ground and root at nodes. This growth makes a close mat rather than an upright bush. It grows in damp woods, scrub, grassland, and herbfields. Its habitats also include boggy ground. These sites range from coasts to subalpine areas. Records from several Asian regions place it at higher elevations. Each flower has both male and female organs. The fruit is a berry about 0.016 feet [0.005 metres] across. Each berry holds one seed.

Grow it in light soil that drains well. Sandy soil and loam both suit it. It accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Give it partial shade and shelter from cold winds. It needs moist soil but dislikes too much winter wet. This distinction matters when choosing a site for the plant. A damp growing season does not mean it tolerates winter waterlogging. A lightly shaded woodland edge offers one garden setting.

Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 8–11. It also describes the plant as nearly hardy in Britain. Outdoor rock gardens suit it where frosts stay light and brief. That source suggests a glass cover for winter protection. Its low mat and berries give it ornamental value. Divide established plants in spring to make more plants. Seed offers another way to raise it. Sow seed in spring under cool, shaded glass. Move seedlings into separate pots once large enough to handle. Keep them under light shade through their first winter. Plant them out after the last expected frost.

Plants For A Future lists the raw fruit as edible. It gives the plant a low food-use rating. The same source reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for pets. It records no known medicinal uses or other practical uses. It also lists no weed potential.