Brass Buttons

Brass Buttons ‘Platt’s Black’ is a very low, spreading groundcover grown for finely divided foliage in dark bronze-black tones with bright green tips. Tiny yellow-green flowers appear in summer, while the creeping mat works well between stones, along path edges, and in small rock gardens. ## Foliage and placement The [RHS profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/122048/leptinella-squalida-platts-black/details) describes a mat-forming perennial with semi-evergreen leaves, reaching about 10 cm tall and spreading widely. The [University of Wisconsin Extension](https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/brass-buttons-leptinella-squalida/) notes that the named ‘Platt’s Black’ form has nearly black leaves with green tips. Use it where a low carpet can spread without overwhelming slower alpine plants. ## Growing conditions Plant in full sun in cooler regions or give light shade in hotter sites. Moist but well-drained soil suits its shallow roots; it does not tolerate prolonged drying, and compacted ground can stall growth. Its runners root as they spread, so edging or periodic lifting can keep the mat within its allotted space. ## Maintenance Water during dry spells and divide or trim the mat if it crosses into neighboring plants.