New Zealand Burr Plant Care
Acaena novae-zelandiae Kirk
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Acaena novae-zelandiae, commonly known as red bidibid, bidgee-widgee, buzzy and piri-piri bur, is a small herbaceous, prostrate perennial, native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea, of the family Rosaceae.
Full sun to partial shade
At a glance
How do you care for New Zealand Burr?
Plant New Zealand Burr in full sun to partial shade.
Where Is the New Zealand Burr Native To?
What Is the New Zealand Burr?
New Zealand Burr (Acaena novae-zelandiae) belongs to the Rosaceae family within the Acaena genus. New Zealand Burr is native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea, of the family Rosaceae. New Zealand Burr is also known as Piripiri.
New Zealand Burr displays a low-growing, spreading ground cover growth habit, reaching up to tall with a spread of approximately . New Zealand Burr produces tiny inconspicuous flowers in clusters.
What Light Does the New Zealand Burr Need?
New Zealand Burr thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Soil Mix Works Best for a New Zealand Burr?
Well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Good drainage is essential for New Zealand Burr to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
Where Should You Plant a New Zealand Burr?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining sandy soil with added organic matter for moisture retention. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Do You Prune a New Zealand Burr?
Prune New Zealand Burr while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.
How Do You Care for a New Zealand Burr in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a New Zealand Burr?
New Zealand Burr can be propagated through seeds, division of offsets. Similar propagation techniques also apply to antarctic bidibid plant care, which shares the same genus.
Is the New Zealand Burr Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list New Zealand Burr, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the New Zealand Burr?
New Zealand Burr is susceptible to aphids, slugs, snails. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
New Zealand Burr is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Acaena genus — compare its care with other Acaena species on PlantoScan.
Acaena is part of the Rosaceae plant family — browse all Rosaceae genera and species.
New Zealand Burr thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
More Acaena Species
Other Acaena species in PlantoScan's care catalogue share similar watering, light, and soil preferences:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Acaena novae-zelandiae Kirk, family Rosaceae (first published in Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 3: 177 (1870 publ. 1871)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list New Zealand Burr, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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