Acaena purpurea

What Is Acaena purpurea commonly used for?

Acaena purpurea is a hardy New Zealand native groundcover with beautiful purple foliage. It's commonly used as ground cover as its spreading habit makes it ideal for covering bare patches of ground, suppressing weeds, and creating a dense carpet of colour. It is often used in rock gardens where it thrives and adds a splash of purple. It can be planted between paving stones or stepping stones, softening the hard surfaces and adding visual interest. It can be used to create colourful borders around flower beds or pathways.

How do you care for Acaena purpurea?

Acaena purpurea, also known as Purple Bidibidi or Purple New Zealand Burr, is a relatively low-maintenance ground cover plant that doesn’t need a lot of care provided you get a few things right. For the most vibrant purple foliage, plant in full sun. It can tolerate partial shade, but the colour may will be less intense and may become tinged with light green. It thrives in well-drained soil and can tolerate various soil types, including sandy and even gravelly soils. Good drainage is crucial to prevent waterlogging which can lead to root rot. Once established, Acaena purpurea is drought-tolerant, however, it will benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells, especially as it gets established. Generally, it doesn't require heavy fertilizer applications but using a general fertiliser in spring will help keep the plant healthy and actively growing. Minimal pruning is usually needed. You can trim lightly in early spring to remove any dead or damaged growth and to maintain a compact shape. You can also pull out any rooted stems that spread beyond the desired area to control its growth. It's generally hardy in temperate climates and can tolerate mild frosts. Finally, Acaena purpurea is generally pest and disease resistant. However, keep an eye out for common garden pests like aphids or slugs and treat with an insecticide if levels are causing damage.

Acaena purpurea plant spacing

The Acaena purpurea plant spacing is generally 50 cm between the plants when grown as a ground cover. Going wider than 50 cm will take longer for the plants to fill in and likely result in more weeding in the interim. If they are being grown between pavers, the spacing is typically one on each side of the paver.

What is the common name for Acaena purpurea?

The common names for Acaena purpurea are Purple Bidibidi, Purple New Zealand Burr, Piripiri (This is a Māori name for plants in the Acaena genus, including Acaena purpurea), Purple Hakea, Purple Goose Leaf, Purple Goosefoot, Purple Sheep's Burr, and Spineless Pirri-pirri. Purple Bidibidi and Purple New Zealand Burr are the most frequently used common names.

Acaena purpurea plants for sale in NZ

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What are the best growing conditions for Acaena purpurea?

Acaena purpurea grows best when planted in full sun or partial shade on a well-drained site. We cannot emphasise enough the importance of good drainage as plants can become diseased and die if drainage is poor or they are constantly waterlogged. It will tolerate coastal environments, wind, and frost.