Family: Plantaginaceae

Origin, Description & Uses
Mecardonia procumbens ‘Goldflake’ (commonly called baby jump-up) is a low-growing, creeping herb native to Tropical and Subtropical regions of the Americas. It forms a dense, spreading mat of bright green foliage and produces small, cheerful yellow flowers over much of the growing season. This ornamental selection is often used as a groundcover in landscaping, in hanging baskets, between stepping stones, or in container plantings where its trailing habit and long flowering period add visual interest and color.

Risks & Threats
Although Mecardonia procumbens ‘Goldflake’ is currently not known to be naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, it does possess traits that are cause for concern, including vigorous vegetative spread and the ability to form dense ground-hugging mats. In favorable tropical conditions, these characteristics could allow it to escape cultivation and potentially compete with or displace low-growing native plants, particularly in moist or disturbed areas. As a precaution, care should be taken when planting this species, and monitoring is recommended to prevent unintended spread. When available, choosing a low-risk or native alternative is encouraged to help protect Hawaii’s unique tropical island ecosystems.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized beyond native range (Taiwan, India, Java, Micronesia)
  
• Acts as a garden, amenity, or disturbance weed
  
• Acts as an agricultural weed (in crop fields)
  
• Tolerant of broad climates (zones 9-11; elevations 0–1000+ m)
  
• History of repeated introductions outside native range
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Minimum generative time = 1 year
  
• Propagules dispersed intentionally by people (sold as ground cover/hanging basket plant)
  
• Propagules likely to be a produce contaminant (grows in crop fields)
  
• Prolific seed production (flowers year-round, small seeds)

Low Risk Traits:

• No evidence of environmental weed status
  
• No congeneric weeds reported
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• No evidence of allelopathy
  
• No evidence of toxicity to animals or humans
  
• Not shade tolerant
  
• No vegetative fragmentation reported
  
• No evidence of seed dispersal by wind, water, birds, other animals, or gut passage
  
• Likely controllable by herbicide (2,4-D at 100 ppm)