Description
Pratia –
There are about 20 species of prostrate, spreading, freely rooting, evergreen perennial in this genus. They occur mostly in damp, shady habitats in Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South America. They produces alternate, usually stalkless, often toothed, ovate to rounded leaves, and are grown for their mass of solitary, 2 lipped, star shaped, usually white or blue purple flowers, which are followed by globular berries. Good groundcover in damp soil, they are also suitable for a rock garden or paving crevice, but can be invasive.
Grow in fertile, loamy, reliably moist soil in partial to deep shade. Divide any time of year.
Prone to slugs and snails.
P. angulata ‘Ohau’ – Lobelia angulata – This mat forming, evergreen perennial grows 2″ tall and 12-24″ wide. From red tinted stems that spread and root freely carry broadly ovate to rounded, deep green, coarsely toothed leaves are very variable in size, but usually 1/4-1/2″ long. In late spring and early summer it bears short stalked, axillary, star shaped, white flowers, to 1″ across, they are followed by in fall by spherical, bright red, fleshy fruit, 1/8″ across. Moderately invasive in moist conditions. Tolerate full sun.
Zones 6-10
