Introduction
Overview
New Zealand native ground covers are diverse, hardy plants that form low-growing mats and carpets, perfect for stabilizing soil, covering difficult areas, and creating attractive underplantings. These resilient species include Acaena species (Bidibidi), Fuchsia procumbens (Creeping Fuchsia), and Leptinella species, many of which produce distinctive flowers, fruits, or seasonal colour changes. Native ground covers are invaluable for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and low-maintenance landscaping in challenging sites where traditional lawn struggles to thrive.
Buzzy Bidibidi
Acaena anserinifolia
Concise overview of Bidibidi, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.
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Bidibidi
Acaena anserinifolia
Concise overview of Bidibidi, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration - Bidibidi profile.
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Small Cushion Daisy
Abrotanella pusilla
Concise overview of Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.
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Fertile Cushion Daisy
Abrotanella pusilla
Concise overview of Fertile Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.
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Tiny Cushion Daisy
Abrotanella pusilla
Concise overview of Small Cushion Daisy, a resilient New Zealand native suited to gardens and restoration.
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Small-Leaved Bidibidi
Acaena microphylla
A hardy native ground cover renowned for its characteristic reddish burrs and dense mat-forming growth habit.
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Red Bidibidi
Acaena novae-zelandiae
A vigorous, mat-forming ground cover with reddish-brown foliage and distinctive spiny burrs.
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Cotula
Leptinella squalida
A low-growing, fern-like ground cover that forms a dense, green carpet, often used as a lawn substitute.
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Creeping Pōhuehue
Muehlenbeckia axillaris
A dense, wiry ground cover with small, round leaves, excellent for covering banks and trailing over walls.
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White Star Creeper
Lobelia angulata
A delicate, mat-forming ground cover with small white star-shaped flowers and tiny rounded leaves.
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Bower Spinach
Tetragonia implexicoma
Bower Spinach is a native New Zealand plant with notable features; well suited to New Zealand plantings.
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