Dichondra Repens Groundcover Seeds

Dichondra Repens Groundcover Seeds

Botanical Name: Dichondra repens

Dichondra repens is a low-growing perennial groundcover used as a soft lawn alternative, living mulch, pathway cover, orchard floor cover, and soil-protecting groundcover. It forms a dense mat of small, rounded green leaves that helps suppress weeds, shade the soil, reduce erosion, and create an attractive low-maintenance surface in suitable climates.

Unlike traditional lawn grasses, Dichondra does not form an upright grassy turf. Instead, it spreads close to the ground, making it ideal for areas where a low, soft, creeping groundcover is preferred. It is best suited to warm, frost-free to lightly frosted areas and performs well in full sun to partial shade with regular moisture.

• Low-growing perennial groundcover and lawn alternative.
• Forms a dense mat of small rounded green leaves.
• Suitable for paths, orchards, garden edges, under trees, and low-traffic lawns.
• Helps suppress weeds, protect soil, and reduce erosion.
• Useful as a living mulch in no-dig and regenerative garden systems.
• Grows in full sun to partial shade with regular moisture.
• Best suited to temperate, subtropical, and mild coastal regions of Australia.

Plant Details

• Plant Type: Perennial creeping groundcover
• Growth Height: Approximately 3–8 cm
• Growth Habit: Low, mat-forming, spreading groundcover
• Leaf Type: Small, rounded, soft green leaves
• Root System: Shallow fibrous roots
• Frost Tolerance: Light frost tolerance once established
• Drought Tolerance: Moderate once established; performs best with regular moisture
• Shade Tolerance: Good in partial shade
• Traffic Tolerance: Light foot traffic only

Best Uses

• Low-growing lawn alternative
• Garden pathways and stepping-stone areas
• Orchard floors and under fruit trees
• Living mulch around garden beds
• No-dig and regenerative garden systems
• Soil stabilisation and erosion control
• Groundcover for shaded or partly shaded areas
• Decorative groundcover between pavers

Sowing Information

• Best Sowing Time: Spring to autumn in warm conditions
• Germination Time: 7–21 days depending on temperature and moisture
• Sowing Depth: Surface sow or cover very lightly, up to 5 mm
• Position: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Type: Well-drained soil; adapts to loam, sandy soil, and light clay
• Watering: Keep consistently moist during germination and establishment
• Establishment: Slower than many lawn grasses; keep weed-free while young

Sowing Rate and Coverage

Seed Quantity Guide

Coverage is a guide only. Use higher rates for faster coverage, sloped areas, patchy soil, exposed sites, or areas where weed competition is likely.

When to Sow Dichondra Repens in Australia

How to Sow Dichondra Repens Seeds

1. Remove weeds and prepare a fine, level seedbed.
2. Water the soil before sowing if conditions are dry.
3. Broadcast seed evenly over the prepared area.
4. Surface sow or cover very lightly with fine soil or seed-raising mix.
5. Press or roll the surface gently for good seed-to-soil contact.
6. Water gently and keep the area consistently moist until established.
7. Keep the area weed-free while seedlings are young and slow-growing.

Care and Maintenance

• Keep moist during establishment; avoid allowing the surface to dry out.
• Once established, water during extended dry periods to maintain coverage.
• Trim lightly if growth spreads into garden beds or pathways.
• Leave light clippings in place as surface mulch where suitable.
• Avoid heavy foot traffic, especially during early establishment.
• For a denser mat, keep weeds controlled until Dichondra has fully covered the area.

Why Choose Dichondra Repens?

Dichondra repens is ideal where a soft, low-growing groundcover is preferred over a traditional grass lawn. It is especially useful in garden pathways, shaded areas, orchard floors, between pavers, and around garden beds where permanent soil cover is needed.

In no-dig and regenerative gardens, Dichondra can be used as a living mulch to protect the soil surface, reduce evaporation, support soil biology, and minimise bare ground. It is not usually grown as a dig-in green manure; instead, it works best as a long-term living cover.

Important Notes

• Dichondra is best suited to light foot traffic, not heavy-use lawns or sports areas.
• It establishes more slowly than many lawn grasses and needs early weed control.
• It performs best with regular moisture and good seed-to-soil contact.
• Young plants can be sensitive to frost, heat stress, and drying out.
• It is a creeping broadleaf groundcover, not a true lawn grass.

Quick Growing Guide