Hypsela reniformis

A pretty little creeping plant with tiny, glossy leaves appearing from gently creeping underground stems. The little leaves are kidney-shaped - hence the name reniformis meaning, literally, kidney-shaped. The small flowers are palest pink, almost white but with strong purple markings. They appear over a few weeks in summer.

An easy, adaptable carpeting plant which will wind its way between paving stones, pushing its way up where it finds a gap or will make a slowly expanding mat in open ground. It won't object to a bit of shade and will also be happy in sunshine as long as the soil stays cool and moist. It will thrive by a pool in moist, not wet, soil. 3cm (1") high.

The leaves die down for winter and are never in a hurry to reappear in spring - they will; it just likes to grow in its own time. It's a wee sweetie.

Hypsela comes from S. America and was one of the plants collected by Charles Darwin on his five-year 'Voyage of the Beagle' in the 1830s. And it will grow in your garden! How cool is that? [ Sorry, I'm trying to attract some younger gardeners here! ] It's way cool!