Mazus pumilio (Swamp Mazus). This native groundcover is a good alternative to grass in a shady area.
Mazus pumilio is a creeping groundcover native to eastern Australia, from south east Queensland to Tasmania and south east South Australia. It is a small, perennial herb growing to .1 m and spreading to 1m.
We have a stretch of ground on the southern side of our house that is in the shade all winter, so the grass usually dies off and the weeds take over.
We planted some Mazus pumilio in an adjoining garden bed about two years ago and it quickly spread and covered the bed in front of some ferns. This year we noticed the mazus had started growing in the lawn area. It grew really well in the shade and eventually covered the whole area, out competing weeds. It is continuing to grow well as it gets more spring sun and hopefully it will survive the full summer sun.
The mazus seems to cope with a moderate amount of foot traffic. It is growing in a utility area of our garden near a storage area and a grassed area where we move the chook tractor each day. The area was mown recently and the mazus quickly grew new flowers. The mowing results in much smaller leaves than the original plant in the garden bed.
We also planted some around the margin of a nearby pond and I also noticed some growing out of a log on the opposite side of the pond.
An added bonus is the pretty purple flowers from September to April and the butterflies that feed on the nectar.
