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Kidney Plant

A pretty, ground-hugging perennial, with kidney shaped leaves and a spreading habit. Tiny star like flowers, mainly in summer are easy to miss in the dense foliage.

 

A great lawn alternative for low-traffic areas. Happily fills spaces between paving stones and along the edges of pathways. Kidney Plant is widely known to grow in damp shady places, and is often recommended to for planting where there is adequate moisture through summer; however this species has been observed growing happily in Campbells Creek in dry, post gold mining subsoil in full sun (Ian Higgins pers com.). It can resprout after dry periods.

 

Scientific name
Dichondra repens
Family
Convolvulaceae

Characteristics


Lifeform
Herbs & Ground covers
Height
0.1
Width
3.0
Growth rate
Medium
Evergreen
Yes
Perennial
Yes

Growing Conditions


Full Sun
Yes
Semishade
Yes
Shade
Cold
-2
Drought tolerance
Waterlogging tolerance
Compaction
Average
Wind
Moderately good
pH
complete range

Uses


Ground cover
Yes
Screen
Shade
Container
Yes
Hedge
Windbreak
Grassy Woodland
Perennial border
Yes
Climber
Native lawn
Yes
Shrub Mass
Wetland

Biodiversity


Insect pollinator feeding
Yes
Caterpillar feeding
Bird feeding
Bird refuge
Lizard feeding
Lizard refuge
Frog refuge
Mammal feeding
Pollinators
Native bees, flies
Larvae
Birds
Mammals

Flowering


Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Yes
Oct
Yes
Nov
Yes
Dec
Yes