Richardia grandiflora aka Richardia Grandiflora
Taxonomy ID: 17806
Richardia grandiflora, commonly known as largeflower Mexican clover, largeflower pusley, or Florida snow, is a low-growing herbaceous plant in the family Rubiaceae (the madder or coffee family). It is native to South America, with its natural range spanning Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina.
The species has been introduced and naturalized in the southeastern United States, most notably in Florida, where it sometimes behaves as a minor weed. In Florida it is known for producing masses of small white flowers during the cooler months, a display so striking that it has earned the colloquial name "Florida snow." The plant is used as a ground cover in ornamental and low-maintenance landscape settings.
As a member of the family Rubiaceae — the same family that includes coffee, gardenia, and bedstraw — Richardia grandiflora is a dicotyledonous angiosperm classified within the order Gentianales. It has undergone several taxonomic revisions and appears in the literature under synonym names including Richardsonia grandiflora, Richardia divergens, and Richardia lateralis, among others.
Common names
Richardia Grandiflora, Richardia Divergens, Richardia Grandiflora Albiflora, Richardia Grandiflora Lilacina, Richardia Lateralis, Richardia Sparsa, Richardsonia Divergens, Richardsonia Lateralis, Richardsonia Sparsa, Spermacoce DivergensMore information about Richardia Grandiflora
Where is Richardia Grandiflora native to?
Richardia grandiflora is native to South America, specifically Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina. Outside its native range, it has been introduced to the southeastern United States — particularly Florida — where it has become naturalized and is sometimes regarded as a minor weed.
What do Richardia Grandiflora flowers look like?
Richardia grandiflora produces small white flowers and blooms prolifically enough during the cooler months in Florida to earn the common name "Florida snow." This white-flowered ground-cover display is one of the species' most recognized ornamental traits.
Can Richardia Grandiflora be grown outdoors?
Richardia grandiflora is grown outdoors as a ground cover plant and is best suited to warm, frost-free climates. It has naturalized in Florida, where it thrives particularly during cooler months and can spread enough to be considered a minor weed. It is not generally grown as a houseplant.
Are there different varieties of Richardia Grandiflora?
Richardia grandiflora has accumulated several taxonomic synonyms through repeated reclassification, including Richardsonia grandiflora, Richardia divergens, and Richardia lateralis, as well as various Spermacoce designations. There are no widely recognized horticultural cultivars; older botanical names sometimes encountered in the literature (such as R. grandiflora var. albiflora or lilacina) reflect synonymy and floral colour variation rather than commercially distinct varieties.
Is Richardia Grandiflora toxic to humans/pets?
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