Description

Dichondra (Dichondra repens) is a perennial, spreading by slender creeping stems that root at the nodes. It forms mats not over 1¹⁄₂ to 3 inches tall. The kidney-shaped to nearly circular leaves grow alternate to each other, sometimes appearing whorled on the stems. The white to greenish small flowers are borne in clusters in the leaf axils below the level of the leaf. Dichondra is cultivated as a ground cover in some states.

Cultural Control

Perennial broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

Species Data

• GROWTH SEASON / LIFE CYCLE
  • perennial weed
• GROWTH HABIT
  • prostrate, spreading; dichondra can creep over a large area, forming a dense mat of vegetation
    Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4
• LEAFLET NUMBER
  • one
• LEAF MARGIN
  • smooth
    Figure 6
• LEAF HAIRS
  • none
• LEAF / LEAFLET SHAPE
  • kidney-shaped to nearly round
    Figure 7
• LEAF WIDTH
  • <¹⁄₂ inch
• LEAF VENATION
  • palmate
• LEAF ARRANGEMENT
  • alternate
• ROOT TYPE
  • fibrous; roots at the nodes
• FLOWER COLOR
  • white to greenish; inconspicuous