Knawel cushion Seeds. ( Scleranthus Biflorus ssp.) Mossy scabweed, groundcover

 This fine leaved New Zealand native Scleranthus forms a dense, moss-like mounded cushion. It grows in full sun in sandy or gritty soil. It has tiny inconspicuous flowers in early summer. It grows into a mould 5cm tall and 59cm wide. It can attain a distinctive golden hue in winter. 

Excellent when planted in a rock garden with some moisture it is a plant that comes into its own from spring through summer to autumn. An interesting choice for container growing where it forms a mound that will flow over the edge of the pot.
Hard pads of tiny leaves with a lovely colour - almost golden, but not quite. A superb little foliage plant, happy on the rock garden where it can fill those bare patches between all the flowering stars and will mould itself around and over rocks. Good in a stone trough too, it will drape over the edges. It's attractive in a quieter way and it's a very good alpine.
This plant will flower but the flowers, like many good foliage plants, are secondary.
Scleranthus is a small genus in the Caryophyllaceae family, a family that includes the exotic carnations. It is a bright green cushion-like perennial herb of attractive compact growth habit. The plant is only a few centimetres high with a spread of approximately 40 cm. The common names, Two-flowered Knawel and Canberra Grass, have been applied to this species but are rarely used, the generic name Scleranthus being favoured. aWhen this plant is being sited in the garden, a position in full sun with adequate moisture will ensure the optimum growth conditions. Soil types do not appear to be critical.

In general, Scleranthus prefers to be in full sun, but will tolerate a small amount of shade. The soil must be very free-draining, otherwise the winter wet will kill your plant.The trick to growing Scleranthus biflorus is a well drained soil with moisture. It is a plant that does not like to dry out, neither does it like to be water logged.
A little slow release low phosphorus native plant fertilizer in spring and some added moisture during dry spells should ensure good growth.
Seeds can be sown at any time but are best sown in winter or early spring to benefit from a cold spell in the wet compost to break their dormancy. We advise covering seeds very thinly with sand or fine grit to about the depth of the seed size. If the seeds do not come up within 6 to 12 weeks the damp seed tray can be given cold treatment in a fridge for about four weeks. They may still take very many months to appear, so please never discard the pot or tray.