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. perpusilla ‘Fragrant Carpet’ – Lobelia perpusilla – This mat forming perennial grows 3/4″ tall and with an indefinite spread. From very thin, weak stems it carries tiny, obovate, toothed leaves, 1/8-1/4″ long, with deeply toothed edges and are slightly hairy. During summer it bears short stalked, star shaped, fragrant white flowers, 1/4-1/2″ across, with recurving lobes.
Zones 5-7
