Japanese mazus (Mazus pumilus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Japanese mazus is a small introduced from Asia, found in lawns and along roadsides across much of the United States. Its pale purple, two-lipped flowers are about 0.3–0.4 in (7–10 mm) long, with yellow and purple markings on the lower lip.

Appearance

Appearance: The small leaves are spoon-shaped to oblong, with rounded teeth and sometimes short hairs.
Growth form: It is an upright annual without creeping, rooting stems.
Flowers: The pale blue-purple to whitish flower has two lips and a yellow-and-purple patterned lower lip. Each flower is about 0.3–0.4 in (7–10 mm) long.

Look-alikes

Miquel's mazusMazus miquelii

Miquel's mazus is a perennial with creeping stems that and flowers about 0.6–0.8 in (15–20 mm) long. Japanese mazus is an upright annual with smaller 0.3–0.4 in (7–10 mm) flowers.

Why they get mixed upBoth introduced mazus species have small purple, two-lipped flowers and may occur in lawns.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: lawns
roadsides
disturbed ground
Range: It is native to Asia and introduced across many eastern states, parts of the Pacific Coast, and Hawaii.
Preferred conditions: It often grows in open, human-disturbed ground where short vegetation leaves patches of soil exposed.

Name and classification

About the name: Japanese mazus is also called Asian mazus.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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