Mazus reptans, commonly known as Creeping Mazus. This little plant is a gem for specific garden situations, offering a charming, low-growing carpet of green and delicate flowers.

What Makes Mazus reptans So Special

• Low-Growing, Spreading Habit: It forms a very low, dense mat of foliage, making it an excellent ground cover for small areas. It hugs the ground tightly, rarely exceeding 2 inches in height.
• Charming Flowers: It produces small, snapdragon-like flowers in shades of lavender-blue, purple, or white, often with yellow markings in the throat. The flowers appear in late spring and early summer, and sometimes sporadically throughout the summer.
• Traffic Tolerant: Surprisingly, Mazus reptans can tolerate light foot traffic, making it a good choice for planting between stepping stones or in pathways.
• Adaptable: It tolerates a range of conditions, including moist soil and partial shade, making it more versatile than some other ground covers.
• Fast-Growing: Quickly fills in.

Description and Details

• Growth Habit: Low-growing, creeping, mat-forming perennial.
• Stems: Slender, creeping stems that root at the nodes, allowing the plant to spread.
• Leaves: Small (about 1/2 to 1 inch long), opposite, lanceolate (lance-shaped) to ovate (egg-shaped), with toothed margins. The leaves are bright green.
• Flowers: Small (about 1/2 inch long), tubular, two-lipped flowers that resemble miniature snapdragons. The flowers are typically lavender-blue to purple, but white-flowered cultivars are also available.
• Fruit: Small capsules containing numerous tiny seeds.
• Size: Typically grows to only 1-2 inches tall and spreads indefinitely.

Native Habitat

• Origin: Native to the Himalayas region of Asia (India, Nepal, China).
• Typical Habitats: Found in moist, grassy areas, along streams, and in open woodlands.

Landscaping Design Tips

• Ground Cover: Its primary use is as a ground cover for small areas.
• Between Paving Stones: Excellent for filling in gaps between stepping stones or pavers, creating a soft, green "mortar."
• Rock Gardens: Well-suited for rock gardens, where their low growth habit and tolerance of moist conditions are advantageous.
• Fairy Gardens: Its miniature scale makes it perfect for fairy gardens.
• Along Streams or Ponds: Its preference for moist soil makes it a good choice for planting along the edges of streams or ponds (but not in standing water).
• Containers: Can be used in containers, spilling over the edges.
• Underplanting: Can be used to underplant taller shrubs or perennials.

Planting and Care

• Planting:
• Timing: Plant in spring or early fall.
• Spacing: Space plants 6-12 inches apart.
• Soil: Prefers moist, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It tolerates a range of soil types, including sandy, loamy, and clay soils, as long as drainage is adequate. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal.
• Light: Prefers partial shade to full sun. In hotter climates, it will benefit from some afternoon shade.
• Care:
• Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist, especially during dry periods. It does not tolerate prolonged drought.
• Fertilizing: Generally, it does not require much fertilization. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in spring can be beneficial.
• Pruning: Pruning is usually not necessary, but you can trim back any straggly growth to maintain a neat appearance.
• Weeding: Remove any weeds that appear, especially when the plants are young. Once established, the dense mat of foliage will help suppress weeds.
• Pest and Diseases: Generally, pest and disease resistant. Slugs and snails may occasionally feed on the foliage. Root rot can be a problem in poorly drained soils.
• Propagation: Easily propagated by division in the spring or fall, or by stem cuttings.

Taxonomy

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Lamiales
• Family: Phrymaceae (Lopseed family) - Note: Previously classified in the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort family)
• Genus: Mazus
• Species: Mazus reptans

Morphology

• Root System: Fibrous root system with creeping rhizomes.
• Stems: Slender, prostrate (growing along the ground), and rooting at the nodes.
• Leaves: Small, opposite, lanceolate to ovate, with toothed margins.
• Flowers: Tubular, two-lipped flowers with five lobes. The upper lip is two-lobed, and the lower lip is three-lobed. The flowers often have yellow markings in their throat.
• Fruit: Small capsules containing numerous tiny seeds.

Other Insights for Gardeners

• 'Albus': A popular white-flowered cultivar, Mazus reptans 'Albus', is readily available.
• Traffic Tolerance: While it can tolerate light foot traffic, it is not as durable as turfgrass. Avoid heavy or concentrated traffic.
• Self-Seeding: It can self-seed, but it is generally not considered aggressively invasive.
• Cold Hardiness: Generally hardy to USDA zones 5-8.
• Comparison to other groundcovers: Similar appearance to Veronica, but Mazus flowers are larger.

In conclusion, Mazus reptans is a charming and useful ground cover for small areas, particularly those with moist soil and partial shade. Its low-growing habit, delicate flowers, and tolerance of light foot traffic make it a versatile choice for planting between paving stones, in rock gardens, or along the edges of water features. It is a relatively low-maintenance plant that adds a touch of beauty and softness to the landscape.