Mazus reptans

Mazus reptans is a small perennial creeping plant that is more or less evergreen and is often used for ornamentation around ponds where it works wonders. Creeping through stems that root at the nodes, it quickly forms a soft and vibrant green low mat. Throughout summer, it is adorned with a multitude of tiny blue-violet flowers with yellow speckled throats, resembling miniature orchids in their beauty and delicacy. This plant tolerates light trampling. It has a great effect in the gaps between paving stones and as a ground cover in moist areas of the garden. It is easily grown in pots on a patio, which allows it to be protected from severe frost and provided with drier soil in winter.

Mazus belongs to the Mazaceae family. It is native to the wet areas of the Himalayas, where it thrives in swamps, wet meadows, and up to the edges of forests. It is a non-rhizomatous herbaceous and creeping species, with ramified and rooting stems that quickly spread to form a mat that reaches a minimum of 40cm (16in) in width but does not exceed an average height of 5cm (2in). The particularly long flowering period occurs from the middle of spring until the end of summer, depending on the climate. It consists of a multitude of small lavender-blue flowers that rise above the foliage on short peduncles. Tubular in shape, they have a small upper lip curled upwards and a lower lip divided into 3 lobes. The white, glandular, and hairy throat shows small yellow spots. The flowers give way to capsules containing seeds that easily germinate in humus-rich soil. The creeping stems bear small round leaves, 2.5cm (1in) in size, with a bright acidic green colour and finely dentate margins. The leaves persist throughout the year unless the winter is too harsh. In cold weather, they take on bronze tones. The plant can withstand temperatures as low as -10°C (14°F) in well-drained soil.

The creeping mazus is ideal for effectively covering the ground in cool to moist gardens, in regions that are not too cold. It is also perfect for adorning rockeries, moist banks, borders, the tops of walls, and of course, water features where it appreciates moist soil during the growing season. Its good tolerance to moderate trampling means it can be placed in the joints of paving or as an alternative to grass in less frequented areas. It can be combined with other ground cover plants such as Houttuynia 'Chameleon', as well as spring-flowering bulbs like crocuses or botanical narcissi, which will emerge from a beautiful and attractive green carpet throughout the year. To take over in shadier areas, consider Corsican mint (Mentha requienii). The exuberant Mazus reptans allows for charming decorations on a patio, with its flowering stems cascading from vases and flower pots.