Description
Mazus –
There are about 30 species of annuals, and creeping, usually mat forming, prostrate perennials in this genus. They occur in wet habitats from low-land to mountainous regions of the Himalayas, India, Pakistan,, China, Taiwan, Japan, Southeastern Asia, and Australasia. The leaves, ½-2″ long, borne in opposite pairs, are mostly linear to spoon shaped or obovate, toothed, and usually mid green. Narrowly tubular flowers, with erect upper lips and large, spreading 3 lobed lower lips, are held singly or few flowered racemes from the leaf axils. Mazus species are suitable as a ground cover in a rock garden or in paving crevices.
Grow in moderately fertile, moist but well drained soil in a sheltered site in full sun. Divide in ealry spring.
Prone to slugs and snails.
M. reptans – This prostrate or mat forming perennial grows 2″ tall and 12″ wide. It produces lance shaped to elliptic or obovate, coarsely toothed bright green leaves, to 1 1/4″ long. From late spring to summer it bears 2 to 5 flowered racemes of white flowers, to 3/4″ long. Tolerant of light foot traffic.
Zones 5-8
