About
Acaena microphylla is a perennial evergreen that features low-growing, creeping stems and small, fern-like leaves that exhibit a bronze hue when they first emerge. It produces rounded flowerheads that are whitish and sit atop short stems, which later develop into eye-catching reddish burrs measuring up to 2.5 cm across.
About the genus
Acaena comprises evergreen perennials or subshrubs characterized by pinnate foliage featuring serrated leaflets. The small flowers are borne in compact, rounded clusters or spikes, which subsequently give rise to distinctive burr-like fruiting structures.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Chalk, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, South-facing, North-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed
- UK hardiness
- H5
Plant details
- Plant type
- Alpine Rockery, Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit
- Matforming
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Height
- Up to 10 cm
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 2-5 years
- Native to
- New Zealand
- Toxicity
- Pets (dogs) - Burrs can irritate skin
Care notes
- Cultivation
- This plant is listed on Schedule 9 of the UK Wildlife & Countryside Act (Northern Ireland) as an invasive non-native species. Although not banned from sale, it is an offence to plant or cause these to grow in the wild IN NORTHERN IRELAND Gardeners possessing them should undertake measures to control them. See RHS advice on invasive non-native species for further information
- Propagation
- Please see cultivation notes
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free