Cotula lineariloba—also charmingly known as “Big Yellow Moon” or “Brass Buttons”—might not be the first name that springs to mind when you think of garden favorites, but its appeal is hard to ignore. This low-growing, fast-spreading ground cover from South Africa has quietly won the hearts of garden lovers with its soft, ferny foliage and whimsical button-shaped yellow flowers.
I first fell for Cotula in my friend Caroline’s backyard in Sonoma. She's an avid gardener with a flair for mixing playful and practical elements in her planting beds. Cotula, she said, was her secret weapon for filling gaps, softening edges, and adding just enough personality without overpowering other plants. And honestly, after watching the tiny blooms dance in the breeze like little yellow lollipops, I was hooked.
Cotula is the sort of plant that works overtime without asking much in return. It thrives in a variety of conditions, spreads with ease, and offers months of continuous blooms—from early spring straight through to fall. It’s a dream for anyone who wants beauty without babysitting. My friend Joseph, an architect in Portland, plants it in low planters on his modern patio, pairing it with gravel and rust-colored corten steel. The contrast is stunning: industrial edges softened by golden pompoms and soft green textures.
The flowers themselves are what really sell Cotula. Balanced on slender stems, they move with even the slightest breeze, adding a kinetic, living quality to the garden. There’s something undeniably cheerful and almost Seussian about them—like they were plucked from a page of The Lorax. Indoors, they’re just as charming. Joseph often snips a few for small bud vases on his dining table—just a single stem is enough to add a touch of playfulness.
Caring for Cotula is refreshingly simple. If you enjoy a bit of mindful gardening, deadheading the blooms one by one can feel meditative. But if that sounds like too much, there’s a hack: once most of the flowers have finished blooming, just shear the whole plant back to about three inches. It’ll bounce back with fresh green growth, creating a neat, soft carpet that looks almost like miniature spikemoss.
It prefers full sun to partial shade—too much shade and the plant starts looking leggy and sparse. The foliage stays low, around one to two inches tall, but the plant can spread up to three feet wide. Well-draining soil is ideal, and while Cotula appreciates moderate watering, it becomes more drought-tolerant as it matures. In colder zones, a hard frost might knock it back, but it typically revives in spring. Bonus: it’s considered fire-resistant—a huge plus for those living in dry, wildfire-prone regions.
Looking to build a visually cohesive garden? Try echoing the rounded shape of Cotula with other ball-like plants. “Billy Buttons” (Craspedia) and Leucospermum are perfect companions, adding texture and color while keeping the whimsical theme going. Or bring in tidy round evergreens like Pittosporum 'Golf Ball' or Westringia ‘Grey Mound’. Repeating a shape—whether it’s a bloom, a leaf texture, or a plant form—can weave a subtle thread throughout your garden and make the whole space feel more intentional.
But Cotula isn’t just a pretty face. It’s also incredibly functional. It works beautifully at the edge of walls, cascades nicely over containers, and even acts as a charming living mulch. Bees and butterflies love it, and it stands up to heat, salt air, and wind like a pro. My friend Jessica, who lives in a coastal town near Santa Barbara, uses it in her seaside garden where strong breezes and harsh sun are the norm. She swears it’s one of the few plants that never complains.
In the end, Cotula lineariloba is the kind of plant that quietly does it all: low-maintenance, high-impact, and endlessly delightful. If you're looking for a ground cover that brings both personality and practicality to your home garden, this golden-buttoned charmer might just be your new favorite. It’s not only a joy to grow but also a tiny reminder that whimsy has a place in even the most curated outdoor spaces.