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Kidneyweed Flower Wikimedia Commons
Convolvulaceae

Kidneyweed Flower

Dichondra repens

Humility and groundedness.

Family
Convolvulaceae
Genus
Dichondra
Native to
Australia, New Zealand, Eastern Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
ground cover
Height
1-3 in
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
moist, well-drained loam
Water
moderate
Hardiness
8-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • The tiny kidney-shaped leaves give this plant its common name and rarely grow larger than a fingernail.
  • Kidneyweed is used as a lawn alternative in warm climates because it stays green, requires no mowing, and handles foot traffic.
  • Its flowers are so small, often just 2-3mm across, that most people never notice the plant is blooming.
  • In Australia, it is one of the most common native ground covers found in shaded bushland and forest floors.
  • NASA studied Dichondra as a potential ground cover for erosion control in disturbed landscapes due to its rapid spreading ability.

Color meanings

0

humility

1

simplicity

2

groundedness

Uses

  • lawn alternative
  • ground cover
  • erosion control
  • between stepping stones