Paronychia argentea aka Silver Nailroot

Paronychia argentea belongs to the pink family, Caryophyllaceae. Its common names include silver chickweed, silverhead, and silver whitlow wort. Its native range spans the Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region. It reaches south-central Iraq and Sudan. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. In the wild, it grows in dry, rocky places.

Plants For A Future describes it as an evergreen perennial. Kew records its life form as annual or subshrub. In gardens, it forms a low carpet of leafy growth. It reaches about 0.3 feet [0.1 metres] tall. Its spread reaches about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres]. The stems take root as they spread across the ground. Its leaves stay on the plant throughout the year. Rich soil can make the foliage look less silver. Its low form suits ground cover rather than taller planting.

Flowers appear from July to August, according to Plants For A Future. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the blooms. The flowers also have a recorded use in tea. The supplied sources give no details about the fruit. They also give no clear account of bark or flower colour. The main garden value described here lies in its spreading cover.

Grow this plant in a warm, open place with full sun. It does not grow in shade. Sandy or gritty soil with very good drainage suits it. It also accepts loam where water drains away well. It tolerates mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Soil may be dry or moist, but drainage remains important. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 6–9. It also reports cold tolerance near 14–23°F [−10 to −5°C]. Cold sites may prove unsuitable, though excellent drainage may improve survival.

Use it in beds, walls, or as cover after bulbs finish flowering. Space plants about 1 foot [0.3 metres] apart for ground cover. Spring division offers a way to make more plants. The supplied evidence names no pests or diseases. Plants For A Future reports no known hazards. That statement does not establish safety for every use. It records leaf infusions in traditional medicine, including use for tuberculosis. These records do not show that such treatments work.