Boerhavia coccinea: Scarlet Spiderling – Prostrate Annual with Red Flowers

Boerhavia coccinea – Scarlet Spiderling, Red Spiderling

Boerhavia coccinea, the Scarlet Spiderling, is a prostrate, spreading annual (or short-lived perennial in frost-free zones) native to the Americas. It forms a mat of slender stems with opposite, slightly fleshy, green leaves. From summer to fall, it produces tiny, bright red, trumpet-shaped flowers in small clusters at stem tips. The flowers are followed by sticky, glandular fruits that adhere to animals for dispersal.

Scarlet Spiderling thrives in full sun and dry, sandy, or disturbed soils. It is a pioneer species of waste places, roadsides, and fields. While not typically cultivated, it provides nectar for small pollinators and seeds for birds. Its prostrate habit and red flowers can be attractive in a wild, naturalistic setting. Drought-tolerant and tough.

Plant Profile