Description: This and other similar Acaena species were introduced into cultivation in Northern Ireland from New Zealand for use mainly as rockery plants. Acaena ovalifolia is the commonest species to be found as an escape in wild situations, mainly in forestry plantations, demesnes and woodland. It is fast-growing and spreads readily by creeping over the ground and also by seed. The globular flower-heads are followed by spiny fruits which attach themselves easily to animal fur or human clothing.

It is now illegal to plant Acaena plants in the wild in Northern Ireland because of the damage their spread could do to native vegetation.

All names: Acaena ovalifolia Ruiz Lopez & Pavon

Distribution Map from NBN: Acaena ovalifolia at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Acaena ovalifolia at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.