Mazus reptans Albus

Mazus reptans 'Albus' is the white-flowered form of the creeping mazus, perfect for quickly forming a vast ground cover that brightens up the partially shaded and moist areas of the garden. It is a small perennial groundcover plant that is often used for ornamenting the edges of ponds where it works wonders. Creeping through stems that root at the nodes, it quickly forms a low, cushion-like carpet with a beautiful vibrant green colour, which is adorned throughout summer with a multitude of tiny delicate white flowers punctuated with yellow. This plant can tolerate light foot traffic. It has a striking effect in the gaps between paving stones and in damp rockeries. It can be easily grown in pots on a patio, which allows for easy protection from heavy frosts, as well as providing a drier soil in winter. 

Mazus reptans 'Albus' 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.

Mazus reptans 'Albus' 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 'Albus' allows for charming decorations on a patio, with its flowering stems cascading from vases and flower pots.