Creeping Mazus Mazus miquelii
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Mazus reptans
- Phonetic Spelling
- MAY-zus me-KEL-ee-eye
- Description
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Mazus is a low growing, flowering, herbaceous perennial in the Snapdragon family, native to the Himalayas, that grows well in wet sites, a rock garden, or growing between stepping stones. Mazus is a small plant, reaching a height of 3 inches, but with a spread between 6 and 12 inches. It forms a dense carpet of foliage that remains green into the fall and produces small clusters of purple flowers. It tolerates foot traffic well and can be mowed making it a lawn alternative. The plant produces small lavender blossoms in early summer. The Genus name comes from the Greek for teat. M. miquelii is also known as M. reptans.
Mazus does well in full sun or partial shade, medium to wet, well-drained soil, with consistent moisture. It prefers moist, rich soils. When grown as a ground cover, six plants per square yard are sufficient to fill in area of that size. The plant will spread by creeping stems that root at the nodes. It is considered an invasive weed in some northern states.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:No known diseases or insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Mazus
- Species:
- miquelii
- Family:
- Scrophulariaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Temperate East Asia and the Himalayas.
- Distribution:
- China, Japan, United States (New England west to Ohio and south to Virginia).
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- wet soil, foot traffic, diseases, insect pests
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Dense
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers bloom in the late spring and summer around June and July generally. Tiny, purplish-blue, tubular, 2-lipped flowers with yellow and white markings appear in small clusters. Racemes terminal.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Obovate
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow, bright green leaves form a dense carpet of foliage that remains green throughout the growing season and well into the fall. Foliage is evergreen in warm winter climates. Basal leaves are numerous, obovate to spatulate, 1 to 2 inches.. Stem leaves on erect stems alternate, on stolons mostly opposite.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Diseases
- Foot Traffic
- Insect Pests
- Wet Soil
