Common Australian Garden Weeds

Dichondra repens

Scientific name: Dichondra repens J.R. and G. Forster


Habit of kidney weed (Dichrondra repens) forming a prostrate ground cover.


Close-up of the kidney-shaped leaves of kidney weed.


Extreme close-up of the tiny white flowers that are hidden below the level of the leaves.


Photo of the stem with a fruit and several adventitious roots.

Common name: Kidney weed

Family: Convolvulaceae

Origin:

Native of Australia.

Habit:

Small perennial herb with creeping stems and kidney shaped leaves, forming a ground cover.

Habitat:

This plant is a native but it can be considered a weed in tended areas.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems are slender, with soft short hairs, spreading horizontally with roots forming at the nodes. Leaves have petioles 0.8-5 cm long with round or kidney-shaped blades 0.4-2.5 cm in diameter with entire margins. Leaves are hairy, especially on the underside, the hairs lying close to the leaf surface.

Flowers and fruit

Flowers are small with 5 sepals 2 mm long and five slightly shorter yellow or white petals. Flower-bearing stems tend to be shorter than the petioles of the leaves.

Distinguishing characteristics:

Ground cover with kidney shaped leaves with entire margins and appressed hairs on the lower surface.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 2. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.