Sessile Joyweed: A Plant to Skip in Your Garden
If you’ve stumbled across sessile joyweed (Alternanthera sessilis) in your research for wetland plants, you might want to keep looking. While this low-growing plant might seem like an appealing ground cover option, there are some important reasons why most gardeners should steer clear of this particular species.
What Is Sessile Joyweed?
Sessile joyweed is a prostrate to ascending forb that can function as either an annual or perennial depending on your climate. This vascular plant lacks significant woody tissue and produces small white or pinkish flower clusters that, while not particularly showy, do have a certain understated charm. In Palau, it’s known as okulabeluulechad, reflecting its widespread distribution across tropical regions.
Where Does It Grow?
Currently, you’ll find sessile joyweed established in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Guam, Palau, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. While it’s native to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, it’s considered non-native everywhere else it grows, having been introduced and now reproducing spontaneously in the wild.
The Problem with Sessile Joyweed
Here’s where things get tricky: sessile joyweed is classified as a noxious weed in the United States. This designation isn’t given lightly – it means this plant poses enough of a threat to agriculture, ecosystems, or human health that its cultivation and spread are actively discouraged or regulated.
The plant’s ability to spread aggressively through both seeds and stem fragments makes it particularly problematic. Once established, it can form dense mats that crowd out native vegetation, especially in wetland areas where it thrives.
Wetland Preferences
Sessile joyweed has varying wetland preferences depending on the region:
- In the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: Classified as an obligate wetland plant, meaning it almost always occurs in wetlands
- In the Caribbean, Eastern Mountains and Piedmont, and Hawaii: Listed as facultative, meaning it can occur in both wetlands and non-wetlands
Why You Should Skip This Plant
Given its noxious weed status and aggressive spreading tendencies, we strongly recommend against planting sessile joyweed in your garden. Even if it might seem like an easy ground cover solution for wet areas, the potential ecological damage and legal complications simply aren’t worth it.
Better Native Alternatives
Instead of sessile joyweed, consider these native wetland ground covers that provide similar benefits without the environmental concerns:
- Wild ginger (Asarum canadense) for shaded wetland edges
- Creeping phlox (Phlox subulata) for sunny, moist areas
- Native sedges like Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica)
- Wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) for partially wet soils
The Bottom Line
While sessile joyweed might catch your eye as a potential garden addition, its status as a noxious weed makes it a poor choice for responsible gardeners. The plant’s aggressive nature and negative impact on native ecosystems far outweigh any potential benefits it might offer. Stick with native alternatives that will support local wildlife and ecosystems while giving you the ground cover or wetland plant you’re looking for – your garden and the environment will thank you for it.
