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Genus Acaena (Bidi-bidi, New Zealand burr, Sheep's burrs)

Acaena Acaena ‘Blue Haze’ Photo/Illustration: Jennifer Benner
Common Name: Bidi-bidi, New Zealand burr, Sheep's burrs
These 100 or so species of creeping, mostly evergreen, perennials and subshrubs hail from California, Hawaii, and a lot of the Southern hemisphere. They are grown for their colorful leaves, unusual flowers, and showy, spiny burrs (which may attach themselves to pets or clothing). Grow Acaena as groundcover or rock garden plants.
 Care: Provide full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil of average fertility. Acaena will also grow well in poor soil, but they absolutely need good drainage.
 Propagation: Take cuttings in spring; separate rooted stems in spring or fall; start seed in containers outdoors in fall.
 Problems: Powdery mildew, rust.