Name: The Plant Company
Address: 284 Meeanee Road, Meeanee, Napier, 4112, New Zealand
Telephone: 0800 843 752
Price range: Contact Us
Rating: 4.8/5

pratia lawn

Tired of battling browning grass or yearning for a lush, low-maintenance alternative to traditional lawn? A pratia lawn offers exactly that: a beautiful, carpet-like ground cover, perfect for New Zealand’s variable climate. Pratia forms a soft, green mat with tiny, charming flowers, making it a favourite for both garden enthusiasts and landscape designers. If you’re seeking a hardy alternative that tolerates light foot traffic, stays green year-round, and suppresses weeds, establishing a pratia lawn could be your garden’s best decision.

Pratia angulata

Pratia angulata, commonly known as Panakenake, is a fast-growing, NZ native ground cover plant. It has small, rounded, green leaves that are held densely as it grows to 10 cm tall and 2 m wide. It bears masses of white flowers in spring, which are followed by red-purple berries in autumn. Pratia angulata is an easy-to-grow plant commonly used as an attractive ground cover, planted around rocks, or allowed to trail over the edge of a small wall. It is also well-suited to trailing over the sides of a pot.

Buy Pratia angulata

From $19.58

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 10 cm

Spread: 2.00 m

Flowering time: Spring

Tolerances: Hardy

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Ponds, Pool areas

Garden styles: Architectural, Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native

Pratia puberula alba with masses of white flowers above fine, green foliage.

Pratia pedunculata 'alba'

Pratia pedunculata ‘Alba’ is a beautiful, low-growing groundcover with lush green foliage and a profusion of crisp white, star-shaped flowers from spring through summer. This hardy perennial is perfect for planting between stepping stones, in rockeries, or along borders where it will spread gracefully to form a dense carpet. It is an easy-care option for year-round greenery and seasonal blooms.

Buy Pratia pedunculata 'alba'

From $19.58

Suited to regions: Subtropical, Temperate

Plant type: Groundcover Plants

Height: 5 cm

Spread: 50 cm

Flowering time: Spring, Summer, Autumn

Garden uses: Borders, Containers, Ground covering, Living areas, Paths & Steps, Pool areas

Garden styles: Backyard, City & Courtyard, Frontyard, Japanese, Modern, Native, Tropical, White

What Is a Pratia Lawn?

A pratia lawn is a living carpet using ground-hugging species from the Pratia family. Unlike conventional grass, pratia spreads easily, weaving through tough spots and shadier areas—delivering excellent coverage where turf often fails. Notable for their starry blue or white flowers in spring and summer, pratia lawns are soft underfoot and remain visually appealing with minimal upkeep.

The Best Pratia Varieties for Lawns

Several pratia varieties excel as living lawns. A classic choice is Pratia pedunculata, renowned for its dense green foliage and delicate blue blooms. For a white flowering option, Pratia 'Summer Snow' offers a striking look while still providing the toughness and quick spread needed for walkable ground cover.

Another excellent form is Pratia angulata 'Treadwellii', chosen for its fine leaves and ability to handle moderate foot traffic. If you're after vivid blue flowers, Pratia 'Country Park Blue' delivers a burst of colour during the warmer months. For slightly larger coverage and bolder texture, consider Pratia macrodon, which blends nicely in mixed ground cover plantings.

Why Choose Pratia for Your Lawn?

Pratia lawns boast several advantages. These ground covers thrive with less water than traditional turf, are tolerant of some shade, and rarely need mowing. Their dense growth suppresses weeds naturally, reducing chemical herbicide use. Pratia is also pet- and child-friendly, making it ideal for family gardens. With their resilience and beauty, pratia lawns transform troublesome patches into inviting, easy-care living spaces.

Planting and Maintaining a Pratia Lawn in New Zealand

Pratia lawns are straightforward to establish. Pick a well-drained spot, loosen the soil, and remove any existing weeds. Plant pratia plugs or potted specimens about 20-30cm apart—growth will quickly fill gaps. While pratia is drought-hardy, it will settle faster and spread more robustly with regular watering in the initial months. An occasional trim keeps it looking tidy but isn’t essential.

Feed in spring with a general garden fertiliser for best results. Routine maintenance is as simple as lifting runners that stray outside your intended area, making pratia one of the lowest-effort ground covers available.

Where to Buy Pratia for Your Lawn

Ready to enjoy a soft, green pratia lawn? We stock a wide range of pratia varieties, including Pratia pedunculata, Pratia 'Summer Snow', Pratia angulata 'Treadwellii', Pratia 'Country Park Blue', and Pratia macrodon. Each offers unique flowers and textures to suit your site and style. Transform your garden with a beautiful, low-maintenance pratia lawn—the greener, softer alternative to grass.

Contact us

Whether you need assistance finding the plant you’re looking for or you simply want to know more about who we are and what we do, we invite you to get in touch with us today. A member of The Plant Company team will get back in touch as soon as possible.