Turfmate field notes · Weeds

Bindii

Soliva sessilis

Find the low-growing weed before the prickles arrive.

Bindii foliage and low-growing plant.
Bindii foliage and low-growing plant.
Photo: Harry Rose · source · CC BY 2.0. Displayed at reduced size; card crops fit the layout.

What to look for

  • A small, low-growing plant with finely divided leaves.
  • Tiny flower heads sit close to the centre of the plant.
  • Hard prickly seed structures develop later in the season.

Confirm it before you treat it

Inspect thin areas before the lawn becomes uncomfortable to walk on. Small fern-like leaves can be confused with other rosette weeds, so include a close-up of the central heads when asking for identification.

What to do next

  1. Remove small plants early, including the crown, before they set seed.
  2. Build grass cover in thin areas and review compaction, mowing height and wear.
  3. Plan control while the weed is young rather than waiting for mature burrs.
Seasonal watch

Conditions matter more than dates.

This cool-season annual establishes before its spring or early-summer prickly stage.

Autumn and winter are useful scouting and early-control windows in temperate lawns. Regional weather can shift the timing.

Explore your region & month ↗

Will spraying remove the existing prickles?

No. Killing the plant does not make mature burrs disappear. Early identification is the better approach for next season.

Keep investigating

Similar problems. Different solutions.

Reviewed 10 October 2026 · Turfmate. Seasonal windows are indicative planning guidance, not measured outbreak or prevalence data.

Technical sources & image credits

Photos support identification and may have been taken outside Australia. Appearance varies with species, mowing and conditions. A Turfmate product link does not imply endorsement by a photographer or source.