AjugaAjuga 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.
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