Ajuga

Ajuga also known as bugleweed is a colorful ground cover. Rapidly filling in between bulbs, bushes and under trees. A low growing perennial that is ever-green.

While it's flowers are blue, pink, violet and a white version, (Alba) blooms from spring to early Summer, it's the leaves that takes the spotlight. The leaves are either grey-green and cream, mottled bronze and red, reddish purple or a metallic bronze.

Most will create a carpet like ground cover and one named A. pyramidalis, which grows upright to about 3 to 4 inches tall, and A.repants will reach 9 inches tall. It can spread to several feet.The leaves can not take a lot of foot traffic.

Carpet bugle will thrive in any soil, it's not that particular. However, they don't like their roots in water, moist is good however.

Propagate by division any time during the growing season. If this gardening shade flower becomes too dense with little air circulation there is a danger of crown rot.

The result is patches of bare spots. So division will keep this to a minimum. One benefit to the density is that it chocks out weeds.

A humus rich, moist soil is best, good air circulation is a must and don't let the roots stand in water.

Ajuga - Bronze Beauty - $12.45 The Ajuga ‘Bronze Beauty’, Ajuga reptans, is a useful ground cover with short spikes of blue flowers. The foliage is evergreen in most regions and has an attractive bronzy-brown shade that quickly forms a low carpet of medium-sized rounded leaves. ‘Bronze Beauty’ will perform well in tubs or mixed containers and makes a beautiful ground cover. The flowers appear in late spring on 4” spikes and spreads of 12-18”. Ajuga ‘Bronze Beauty’ will do best in a shaded area but will adapt to morning sun, the foliage colors will be more vivid with morning sun. Bronze Beautys prefer moist soil with a good drainage but will tolerate moderately dry areas. Do avoid soggy conditions. This Ajuga looks great in rock gardens, as a border plants and mass plantings. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to Ajuga, not to mention being deer resistant and a low allergen. If one is looking for a perennial ground cover to exceed in a hard to grow shady area, Ajuga is the way to go.

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