Pratia

Related to Campanula these creeping evergreen perennials will enjoy a shady position, or a sunnier spot with a moisture-retentive soil. Due to their diminutive size, they are suitable for growing in troughs, pots (as ground cover under another shrub), or in crevices in a rock garden. Commonly from Australasia, but also Asia and South America.

Forming a dense mat, and able to colonize a lawn, Pratia can turn a patch of grass into a flowery magnet for pollinators such as small bees and flies, the flowers lying below the normal mowing height. However, their ability to creep into established grass swards means they pose a risk to natural grassland if allowed out of the garden: all steps should be taken to prevent their spread. Also known as Lobelia.