PerennialsDiscover the right perennial plants for your garden.
efflorescence bugle plant . picture by : Orest Iyzhechka / Shutterstock
Bugleweed is a common gloomy - maintenance earth cover that is useful for apace covering large expanse . This evergreen or semi - evergreen perennial is hardy in most growing regions and is tolerant of a wide range of growing experimental condition , from full Lord’s Day to full shade , and different stain . The lowly rounded foliage comes in a chain of colors and patterns , with showy efflorescence stiletto heel that appear in bounce attracting hummingbird , butterflies , and other dirt ball pollinator .
A member of the mint family unit , the most unremarkably grow ornamental species of Lycopus virginicus ( Ajuga reptans ) is aboriginal to Europe , northerly Africa and western Asia , and has naturalized in the U.S. and other countries across the orb . Bugleweed has a vigorous growth habit that can beinvasive in some areas(see where ) , so it ’s crucial to learn how to use it in your landscape painting . See below forbugleweed alternativesif it is incursive in your area .
This dense , gym mat - forming flat coat cover can be used to suppress weeds and on poor website where little else will acquire . Bugleweed is versatile in beds , borders , and container . Here ’s how to grow and use bugleweed in your yard .
On this Sir Frederick Handley Page : Basics|Planting|Care|Pictures|Frequently Asked Questions|Landscaping Ideas
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BUGLEWEED BASICS
Botanical name:
Ajuga reptansand other specie
Common names:
Ajuga , bugleweed , blue bugle , carpet bugle , common bugleweed , bugleherb , carpet weed , carpet bugleweed
Plant type:
Herbaceous perennial ground cover
Zones:
3 - 10 , depending on the potpourri
Exposure:
Full sunlight to full ghost
Habit:
Dense mat - make riding habit ; spreads through sneak rhizomes
Height/Spread:
3 to 12 inches tall , 6 to 24 inch wide , depending on the variety
Bloom time:
Late spring to early summer , with sporadic rebloom
Flowers:
little tubular flowers resembling lobelia occur on upright spikes . Flower color is most often blue , but can also be pink or white .
Foliage:
Round or oval foliage has a crinkled texture , with a shiny or dim Earth’s surface . Foliage colors can be immature , burgundy , bronze , burnt umber , atomic number 79 , or vary . The foliage is evergreen or semi - evergreen plant in all but the coldest area .
Is bugleweed deer resistant?
Bugleweed is deer resistant due to the bitter taste of the foliation , which repels most wildlife .
HOW TO PLANT BUGLEWEED
When to plant:
plant life bugleweed during milder months in spring or fall to avoid stress from uttermost heat or stale .
Where to plant:
select a site with partial sun to full shade and rich , well - draining soil . Some varieties are tolerant of full sunshine . Foliage color will be most vibrant with at least 3 to 4 minute of direct sunlight . supply good afternoon shade in hot climates . verify there is good air circulation to discourage diseases .
How to plant:
undo grime in the planting area and amend with compost or other productive organic matter . travail a hole slightly wider and deep than the root ball . take away industrial plant from the glasshouse container and tease out roots if potbound . Place in the hole so the top of the root ball is grade or slightly high than the surrounding soil . Fill in the hole with soil , tamp down gently to transfer melodic phrase pockets , and water good .
Spacing:
outer space works 12 to 18 inches apart .
BUGLEWEED CARE
' Black Scallop ' Lycopus virginicus . Photo : Proven succeeder
Soil:
Ajugais tolerant of a wide range of soils , but prefers rich , well drained stain with a slightly acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.5 . Good drainage is of the essence to prevent root rot or diadem rot . For container , use a high caliber all - design potting mix .
Amendments & fertilizer:
Bugleweed needs fiddling or no supplementary fertilizer unless dirt is poor . In early spring , apply a slow exit all - purpose fertilizer harmonise to instructions . Mulch around flora with a flimsy layer of compost or other constitutive affair to suppress weeds and continue moisture .
Watering:
Bugleweed prefers moderate moisture and is drouth patient of once establish . Avoid overwatering to prevent root putrefaction or crown rot .
Pruning:
murder errant runners whenever they trench into areas where they ’re not wanted to keep other plants from becoming overproduction . Prune out dead or damaged leaf as needed . When plants are finished blooming , shear off spent flower stalks to meliorate appearance . In big areas , this can be done with a lawnmower at a in high spirits mise en scene .
Pests and diseases:
When contribute optimum growing conditions , bugleweed is barren of most pests and disease . Pests includeaphidsand root mi nematodes . In humid mood , plant life are more susceptible to crown rot orpowdery mould . Overwatering or badly drained grease can cause beginning rot .
BUGLEWEED VARIETIES
pic by : Proven Winners .
' Black Scallop'—Buy now from Proven WinnersAjuga reptans
Zones:4 - 10Habit : Creeping open habitHeight / Spread:3 to 10 inches tall , 10 to 14 inches wideExposure : Full sunshine to shadeBloom time : later bound to early summertime
‘ Black Scallop ’ produces glossy cryptic burgundy foliage with a scalloped bound . discolor becomes drab with more sun and can look closely inglorious . Flower spike heel are vivid blue . mix with creeping Jenny or other gold foliaged earth cover for completing contrast .
Photo : Lynn Hunt / Millette Photomedia
' Bronze Beauty’Ajuga reptans
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Creeping spreading habitHeight / Spread:3 to 6 column inch tall , 12 to 18 inches wideExposure : Partial shade to shadeBloom meter : later spring to early summer
This vigorous variety produces rich dark drear flower spike that contrast dramatically with the bronze - gullible foliage . Plant in between stepping stones or underneath shrubs where works will get partial sun for the best colour .
Photo : Anna Gratys / Shutterstock
' Burgundy Glow’Ajuga reptans
Zones:5 - 9Habit : Compact spreading habitHeight / Spread:9 to 12 inches tall , 12 to 24 inches wideExposure : fond Dominicus to shadeBloom time : tardy springtime
Semi - evergreen leave are green with creamy white gross profit margin along the edges . Use to brighten up shady area ; coloring is best in semi - nicety . industrial plant in containers , rock ‘n’ roll garden , timber borders , or tidy sum in the landscape painting . Spreads by rhizomes , but is not invasive . Plants prefer moderately moist to wet soil ; do n’t set aside filth to dry out out completely . Moderately drought broad once found .
' Catlin ’s Giant’Ajuga reptans
Zones:3 - 9Habit : grovel spread out habitHeight / Spread:3 to 12 in tall , 12 to 24 inches wideExposure : Full sun to shadeBloom time : Late spring to former summer
This award - acquire kind is prized for its jazzy purple - bronze foliage and graphic violet - bluish flowers spike that reach up to 12 inches grandiloquent . apply this orotund Master of Arts in Teaching - forming variety to promptly enshroud larger areas . ‘ Catlin ’s Giant ’ pair well with spring blooming electric light such as scandalmongering Narcissus pseudonarcissus and tulip .
' Chocolate Chip’Ajuga reptans
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Creeping diffuse habitHeight / Spread:2 to 3 inches magniloquent , 6 to 12 column inch wideExposure : fond sunlight to shadeBloom prison term : belated springtime to early summer
‘ Chocolate Chip ’ has narrow oval - mold leave in shades of green and hot chocolate brown that become more intensely colour in during cooler months . This gnome cultivar has a humble mounding habit and is less vigorous than other variety . Use in humble space , container , or where more hold growth is desired . More disease - insubordinate than other cultivar .
pic : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
Feathered Friends ™ ‘ Tropical Toucan’Ajugahybrid
Zones:4 - 9Habit : Creeping spreading habitHeight / Spread:4 to 6 inches marvelous , 9 to 18 column inch wideExposure : fond sun to shadeBloom clock time : Late spring to early summer
One of the first gold - leafed bugle varieties , Feathered admirer ™ ‘ Tropical Toucan ’ has large rippled lucky parting , red stems , and cobalt patrician flowers for stunning demarcation . apply to light up shady areas or mass along a side . leafage entertain it smart colour year - circular .
' Golden Glow’Ajuga reptans
Zones:3 - 9Habit : sneak spreading habitHeight / Spread:4 to 6 inch tall , 12 to 18 inches wideExposure : fond sun to shadeBloom time : later natural spring to early summer
‘ Golden Glow ’ forms a thick low - growing carpet , with rounded leaves splotched with green and creamy white that larn hint of rose wine - pink during cooler month . Short spikes of deep - puritanical efflorescence contrast with the variegated leaves for stunning dividing line . Spreads more slowly than other varieties . utilize in minuscule spaces , containers , and wintertime landscape . Protect from red-hot good afternoon sun .
picture : Helen Pitt / Shutterstock
' Metallica Crispa’Ajuga pyramidalis
Zones:3 - 9Habit : Creeping spreading habitHeight / Spread:3 to 6 inches tall , 8 to 12 inches wideExposure : Full sun to shade ; protect from hot afternoon Lord’s Day . Bloom time : Late spring to early summer
Crinkly saturnine green and purple - bronze foliage has a shiny metallic sheen . foliation colouring is more marked with brighter exposure , and during warmer months . Plants are smaller and slower develop than some other varieties . Showcase ‘ Metallica Crispa ’ in a modest infinite , sway garden , or expend as inch .
Photo : Gurcharan Singh / Shutterstock
' Pink Lightning’Ajuga reptans
Zones:3 - 9Habit : creep distribute habitHeight / Spread:4 to 6 inches tall , 12 to 16 inch wideExposure : Partial sun to shadeBloom time : Late springtime to early summertime
This unusual mixed bag produces short pink bloom spikes and ruffle sage green leaf with a creamy white edge for eye - catching contrast . employ in smaller yards , as an attractive accent in containers , or to buoy up up shady orbit .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is bugleweed invasive?
Ajugais considered invasive in parts of Maryland , Oregon , and West Virginia . Though it has a vigorous growth use , it can be controlled by digging up the hush-hush runner . Avoid planting near a turf lawn , or install a barrier to forestall Lycopus virginicus from taking over lawn area .
IsAjugaa good ground cover?
Ajugais utile as a ground cover to quickly cover a slope or other large area , or when implant in challenging sites where little else will produce .
Does bugleweed come back every year?
Ajugais a long - lived evergreen or semi - evergreen perennial that issue forth back reliably from year to year .
Will bugleweed choke out other plants?
Many mixed bag ofAjugahave a vigorous spreading plant that can give the sack nearby plants . Confine bugleweed to more challenging site , or keep plant on a regular basis pruned back .
Is bugleweed poisonous to humans?
bugle is not considered toxic to mankind , though it may cause digestive upset to dogs and cat if ingested . adjoin your veterinarian or poison control center if your pet get any signs of distress .
BUGLEWEED LANDSCAPING TIPS
' Burgundy Glow ' ajuga . Photo : Cha . Gheysamool / Shutterstock
For borders and landscapes:
Use bugle as butt on , underneath trees and shrub , as a lawn choice , in rock gardens , quite a little planting or timber border .
For slopes and hillsides:
Bugleweed can be mass along a side or hillside to stem erosion .
For containers:
Plant bugleweed in containers by itself or in combination with other plants with exchangeable growing pauperization .
There are many ways to expend bugleweed in your landscape . Here ’s how :
Companion works : Bugleweed duet well with many tree , shrubs , perennial and annual . Some of the best companion plant include astilbe , bleeding warmheartedness , coral Vanessa Bell , daffodil , ferns , forget - me - not , witch alder , scarcely geranium , holly , hydrangea , hosta , lungwort , rose , Siberian oxtongue , and viola .
Alternatives to bugleweed : In realm whereAjugais invasive , employ alternate ground covers that fly high in fond spook . These include bishop ’s hat , bunchberry , creep Jenny , mazus , Siberian Anchusa officinalis , spotted deadnettle , or wild ginger .
