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You love the look of Monstera deliciosa or banana tree plant, but maybe you don’t have the room for these large, dramatic houseplants. No worries!
There are plenty of easy-care houseplants that don’t take up a lot of real estate in your home. If you need a plant for more compact spaces, baby’s tears may be the right choice for you.
The tiny rounded leaves give this adorable plant its name. The plant also is known as angel’s tears or Paddy’s wig, perhaps because it looks like a head of curly hair. The foliage is lime green, though several varieties have gold or silvery foliage.
Native to the Mediterranean, including Italy and the islands of Sardinia and Corsica, baby’s tears is actually a vigorous perennial ground cover. It grows in USDA Hardiness zones 9 and warmer and can spread up to 6-feet-wide in the garden. (Find your zone here.)
In fact, it is considered invasive in some regions because it roots itself wherever the creeping stems contact soil.
But indoors, baby’s tears is better behaved and makes a charming houseplant that stays compact in its pot. It looks beautiful cascading from a hanging pot, and it’s also a good choice for terrariums.
Im a garden writer with more than 15 years of experience growing houseplants, edibles, and landscape plantings. I also trial new plant cultivars for performance and reliability, and test garden products to evaluate practicality and durability.
The baby tears plant, also known as angel’s tears or mind-your-own-business, refers to the species Soleirolia soleirolii. This charming little plant is loved for its dense, carpet-like foliage and ease of care. But did you know there are actually several different types of baby tears to choose from?
In this article, we’ll explore the key characteristics of the baby tears plant and look at the different varieties available Whether you’re searching for the perfect groundcover or want an easy-care houseplant, read on to find the right baby tears type for you!
Overview of Baby Tears
Native to the Mediterranean region, baby tears is a mat-forming evergreen perennial in the nettle family. It spreads via slender, creeping stems to form a lush green carpet of tiny rounded leaves. Given its spreading habit, baby tears makes an excellent ground cover and is also valued as an indoor plant.
This versatile plant thrives in moist, well-draining soil and does best in partial shade to full shade It enjoys high humidity and warm temperatures between 60-75°F. While hardy only in zones 9-11, baby tears can be grown as an annual or houseplant in cooler climates.
Now let’s look at the different varieties of this beloved plant.
Soleirolia Soleirolii (Species Baby Tears)
This is the original baby tears species, boasting deep green, coin-shaped leaves about 1⁄4 inch wide. It forms a dense, velvety mat reaching just 2-6 inches tall but spreading indefinitely when happy. Tiny white flowers occasionally appear in summer.
The species is perfect as a lush groundcover and easily cascades from containers. It enjoys shadier spots and moist, humus-rich soil. Provide ample water and humidity for the healthiest growth. In optimal conditions, it spreads vigorously and can become weedy.
Soleirolia Soleirolii ‘Golden Queen’
‘Golden Queen’ offers a touch of color with its green leaves edged in yellow. The yellow margins lighten to creamy white during cooler months, adding charm. It shares the spreading habit of the species but may grow slightly taller, reaching 4 inches high.
This variety thrives in part sun to part shade and moist, well-draining soil. Use it as an accent plant in mixed containers or let it spread as a luminous ground cover. Provide plentiful water and humidity.
Soleirolia Soleirolii ‘Silver Queen’
If you love baby tears but want something a little different, consider ‘Silver Queen’ with its elegant silver-gray foliage. The leaves are smaller than the species and tinged in white for a delicate, frosted appearance.
Give this variety the same care as other baby tears, with partial sun or shade and plenty of moisture. It grows just 2-4 inches tall but spreads readily in ideal conditions. Use it among other plants to add refined texture and color.
Soleirolia Soleirolii ‘Variegata’
For a showy variegated form, grow ‘Variegata’ with its leaves distinctly marked in white along the margins. The white coloring becomes creamier during winter, providing year-round interest. It reaches a petite height of 2-4 inches.
Site ‘Variegata’ in part sun to part shade where its markings won’t fade. Maintain consistently moist soil and high humidity for best growth. Allow it to cascade from pots or weave among other shade-lovers as an eye-catching groundcover.
Caring for Baby Tears
To keep your baby tears happy and lush, provide the following care:
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Light: Bright, indirect light or partial sun. Can tolerate full shade. Avoid hot direct sunlight.
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Soil: Rich, humus-y potting mix that retains moisture but drains well. Outdoor plants need moist, nutrient-rich soil.
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Water: Keep soil consistently moist. Never allow to dry out fully. Indoor plants may need less water in winter.
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Humidity: Maintain 60-80% humidity. Mist leaves, use pebble trays, or grow in terrariums.
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Temperature: Prefers 60-75°F. Can tolerate brief light frosts outdoors. Avoid cold drafts.
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Fertilizer: Feed with diluted liquid fertilizer every 2-4 weeks in spring and summer.
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Pruning: Trim back overgrown sections or to control spread.
With the right care, baby tears provides a lush, soothing carpet of foliage indoors or out. Choose from green, gray, golden, or variegated varieties to suit your style. Let this delightful little plant add beauty to your containers or shaded garden beds.
How Do You Grow Baby’s Tears Plant?
Baby’s tears loves high humidity and bright, indirect light, but it will tolerate lower light levels.
Keep this plant slightly moist at all times. If it dries out, it will quickly decline. Water the plant from beneath by placing it in a sink of water and letting it soak up water through the pots drainage holes. This prevents the foliage from getting matted down. Or you can use a to give it a steady supply of moisture.
If you like, fertilize with any once a month during the spring to summer growing season. This is not entirely necessary. Babys tears is a fast-grower as long as its getting the correct light and moisture levels.
If baby’s tears starts to look shaggy or leggy, simply give it a haircut all around! It will fill out again quickly.
Most importantly, make sure to give baby’s tears high humidity levels. Because most homes hover around 40 to 50 percent or lower in winter, it may be best to grow this plant in a terrarium to keep a more consistent moisture level.
In this case, you will not need to water as frequently—you’ll probably be able to spritz plants inside a terrarium just once a week. Trim baby’s tears back as it grows, so that it doesn’t crowd out the other plants in your display.
Baby’s Tears Plant Basic Info:
- Common Name: Baby’s tears, angel’s tears, Paddy’s wig
- Botanical Name: Soleirolia soleirolii
- Plant Family: Urticaceae
- Type of Plant: Perennial, houseplant
- Native Origin: Mediterranean, including Italy, Sardinia and Corsica
- Sun Exposure: Dappled shade outdoors, indirect light indoors
- Mature Size: 3 inches tall by 3 to 6 feet wide, though it stays compact indoors
- Toxic to pets: No
Baby Tears Plant Care (How Not To Kill Your Baby Tears Plant)
FAQ
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Do baby tears spread?
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