Mazus ‘Fairy Lights’

Mazus 'Fairy Lights' (Mazus reptans) is the groundcover for flat awkward places: between pavers, along a path edge, or where a lawn refuses to work. It creeps to only 100mm high and spreads to about 600mm per plant, forming a tight evergreen mat that takes light foot traffic. Through the warmer months it carries small purple and white flowers held just clear of the leaves.

Why you'll love it

• Genuinely flat. At 100mm high it fills the gaps between pavers and stepping stones without catching a shoe.
• It takes being walked on. Light foot traffic does not bother it, which is rare in a flowering groundcover.
• Happy in damp ground. Wet feet tolerant, so it works in the low corner or the shaded strip that never quite dries out.
• Flowers that bring in bees. Small purple and white blooms cover the mat and draw bees and butterflies.

Where it works best

Groundcover and paving. Plant 30cm apart for a dense carpet, which is about eleven plants per square metre. At that spacing the mat closes over a single growing season.

Retaining walls and slopes. It roots as it creeps, so it knits into a batter and holds the surface soil in place. Plant across the slope rather than down it, and water carefully until it grips.

Rockeries, borders and edging. It spills over rock and low wall edges and softens the line where a bed meets a path.

Growing Mazus 'Fairy Lights' in Australia

Position and climate. Partial shade is ideal, though it takes more sun in cooler gardens where the soil stays moist. It suits cool temperate and warm temperate climates and is frost hardy. It is not rated for tropical or subtropical gardens.

Soil. Moisture retentive soil with compost dug through. It copes with ground that stays damp, but the reverse is its weakness: dry sandy sites thin it out.

Water and feed. Keep the water up while the plants are joining, especially through the first summer, and never let it dry out. A light feed of complete fertiliser in early spring is all it needs.

Pruning. None required. Run an edger along paths once or twice a year, and shear tired patches in early spring so fresh growth comes through.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in one size, tube stock, so each plant is a small rooted plug rather than an established mat. That is normal for a creeping groundcover, and the practical way to buy the numbers a carpet needs.

Tubes travel well and settle in quickly. Expect visible spread within a month in warm weather, and a closed carpet by the end of the first season. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read about the best ground cover plants for shade.
• Browse the wider groundcover range.
• Compare our rockery plants.
• See what suits retaining walls and slopes.

Common questions

How many plants do I need?

About eleven per square metre, spaced 30cm apart. Wider spacing still works, it just takes a second season to close.

Can I walk on it like a lawn?

Light foot traffic only. It handles a path across a bed or a stepping stone run, but it is not a lawn substitute and will not take children and furniture all summer.

Will it grow in a wet spot?

Yes. It is wet feet tolerant, which makes it one of the few flowering groundcovers for a low lying bed or a downpipe outfall that stays soggy after rain.

Is it going to take over the garden?

It spreads steadily by creeping stems but stays shallow rooted and lifts easily. An edge run once or twice a year keeps it where you want it.