Acaena microphylla Kupferteppich

The Acaena microphylla 'Kupferteppich', also known as the Small-leaved Barberry, is a low and original evergreen ground cover! Its tiny dark green to bronze foliage, washed with pink, and its rounded, spiky, brilliant red fruits punctuate its carpeting habit from August to September. Whether between paving stones, as a border, or in a rockery, this little plant thrives in well-drained soil, healthy in winter and not too dry in summer.

Coming from the meadows of New Zealand, the Small-leaved Barberry is one of the smallest in its genus. This perennial plant from the rose family forms a dense cushion about 30 cm (12in) wide, with pale green compound leaves finely divided into leaflets no more than 3 mm (1in) in diameter. Its foliage is evergreen in mild climates. Its leaves are carried by underground stems and roots, allowing it to spread over time. In June-July, small white-greenish flowers in the form of small spheres appear. In autumn, countless curious fruits measuring 2 to 3 cm (1in) in diameter, rounded and spiky but not prickly, and of a lovely dark pink hue, stand out above the foliage and last several weeks until the end of summer. They resemble small chestnut burrs. These fruits stick to the hair of animals, aiding in their dispersal over long distances in their native land. The Acaena microphylla 'Kupferteppich' differs from the species by its larger size, forming a 10 cm (4in) high and 50 cm (20in) wide carpet. Its leaves and fruits have bright and intense colours.

Small-leaved Barberry is a plant that thrives in almost all soils in an alpine climate, but it is generally much less demanding to grow than strictly mountain species. However, it does not tolerate very dry summers at all. Perfectly hardy, the Acaena microphylla is highly appreciated in rockeries, as a border plant, or as a ground cover at the base of bushes, accompanied by small spring bulbs and vibrant-coloured grasses such as Imperata cylindrica Red Baron. It also grows very well in containers or pots, where it will spill over the edge with ease. The Acaena can also be used on a green roof or living wall in cooler climates when combined with small sedums, houseleeks, saxifrages, or small grasses.