Red Bidibid

Botanical name: Acaena novae-zelandiae

Common name(s): Red Bidibid, Piripiri, Piri-piri Bur, Bidgee-widgee

Plant facts:

A vigorous, mat-forming native ground cover with bright green to bronze foliage and distinctive red hooked seed heads. One of New Zealand’s most widespread bidibid species, it thrives across a wide range of habitats and is commonly recognised by its burr-like fruits that cling to clothing and animal fur.

Natural habitat:

Occurs in a wide range of environments including forest margins, shrublands, grasslands, river terraces, coastal dunes, and disturbed open areas.

Growing environment:

Frost, Sun, Wind, Coastal & Free draining tolerant.

Endemic distribution:

Native to New Zealand, Australia, and New Guinea. In New Zealand it occurs throughout the North, South, Stewart, Chatham, and Campbell Islands.

Height:

Approximately 15 cm tall, spreading up to 1.5 m wide

Flowering:

October – February
Produces small white globe-shaped flower heads.

Fruiting:

November – June
Develops red hooked burrs that mature pale brown or golden-brown.

Uses:

• Ground cover
• Lawn substitute
• Riparian plantings
• Erosion control
• Bee and insect habitat

Appearance:

Growth habit:
A stoloniferous, trailing perennial that spreads rapidly by creeping stems which root at the nodes.

Leaves:
Leaves are pinnately divided with 9–15 toothed leaflets. Foliage ranges from shiny bright green to dull bronze-green, often with reddish stems and leaf stalks.

Flowers:
Rounded white flower heads are held on upright stems above the foliage.

Fruit:
Produces cone-shaped burrs with hooked red spines that attach easily to fur, feathers, socks, and shoelaces for dispersal.

How to grow:

Very easy to grow in full sun and free-draining soils. Suitable for use as a hardy ground cover or lawn alternative. Can be controlled by trimming flower heads before burrs mature. Propagation is by seed, division, or rooted stem sections.