Oyster plants not that popular with ArtisTree Plantopinions experts.

Oyster plants never fail to turn heads with sword-shaped leaves that are green on top and purple below. But shucks, they didn’t get very good reviews from ArtisTree Plantopinions experts for a variety of reasons. The world may be your oyster, but the oyster plant may not be your world. It all depends on what kind of soil you have and how you intend to use it.

Joe Mantkowski, ArtisTree VP Landscape Design:

Very cool plant.  Great used for bordering the exterior of a plant bed. Purple color is always a nice change as is its unique texture. Super low maintenance. Needs sun and good drainage to do well. I’ve used oyster plants in several projects for their unique color and texture. You have to keep an eye on them as they will spread, but that’s easily addressed.

Clinton Lak, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I like this specimen but it’s not in my arsenal of plants that I use on a regular basis. It’s both invasive and particular to slow-percolation soils. Still, oyster plants are an easy way to add a spread of color in tropical gardens where ground cover is desired. Their sprawling growth pattern allows them to cover a large area within a relatively short period of time. Oyster plants provide the best color when used in a mixed light environment that gets both sun and shade. Plant in full sun and they’ll bleach out. In dense shade they’ll look greener. They don’t tolerate wet soils and will fail during the rainy season. That makes them a poor option on properties that have a clay-based dredged fill.

Chris Culp, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

The oyster plant and dwarf oyster plant aka “Rhoeo” have their place in the landscape. This is an older plant in the industry. It’s very low growing with a spreading mass plant that can be invasive. It can grow in full sun to full shade but will need a well-drained soil. What I like is its unique two-tone/variegated top and bottom leaf color. Very attractive. It’s of those drought-tolerant plants you can just plant and forget about. But oyster plants can be finicky sometimes, with some doing just fine and others withering away.  They’re cold sensitive and if hit hard will just “melt” due to the succulent leaves. I do like it in the correct areas (closer to the beach) but don’t use it that much.

Brian Clouser, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

Not a big fan. It can get out of bounds and sometimes struggles with sun and rain balance. I like it with some afternoon shade in a contained bed for a ground cover planting.  I agree with what Clinton said about oyster plants not tolerating clay-based soil because of drainage issues. But if you have your heart set on them, you can always plant in containers where they’ll perform beautifully. Because they’re invasive, you should use them sparingly. Be prepared for them to die back to the ground during a freeze unless you use a frost cloth.

Elisabeth Owen, ArtisTree Landscape Designer:

I don’t use this plant because of its tendency to spread and escape intended planted areas. It’s considered invasive in south Florida. I agree it’s a nicely colored perennial and hardy, too — but it’s somewhat of an “dated” plant choice for which we have better alternatives. Two that come to mind are Society Garlic and purple Lantana (both low ground covers). Oyster plants like it on the drier side, so when they fail, it’s usually due to too much water. That’s why it’s important to let the top few inches of soil dry out regularly between watering. A prettier alternative is the tricolor oyster plant, which has attractive, multi-colored foliage in green/white/pink with deep pink-to-purple undersides. Need to make sure it gets a break from afternoon sun, though. It’s also a perfect choice for brightly lit indoor areas.

Conan Michel, ArtisTree Landscape Operations Manager:

The oyster plant is known for its striking purple/green color and can fill open spaces or be used to border taller plant beds. Performs well in well-drained soil and prefers partial sunlight. It will “melt/rot” if it receives too much water. I call it an informal planting and recommend it for homeowners who want a splash of color in their landscape. Not known for its flowers but instead for its deeply colored leaves. Oyster plants can be invasive if left to spread on their own. Planting them in mounded beds to facilitate good drainage is a must.

ArtisTree “Plantopinions” is a roundtable debate between multiple ArtisTree experts on the virtues of various plant specimens. Sometimes there’s consensus and sometimes not. In the end, you are the judge.

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Category News, Groundcovers