Ajuga

Ajuga, Ajuga reptans, is also known as bugle, bugleweed, carpetweed, blue bugle, bugleherb, and carpet bugle. It is also know as carpenters herb due its supposed ability to stem bleeding and hemorrhaging as per some medieval writings. Ajuga is an excellent perennial groundcover. Ajuga forms a dense carpet of foliage and it is fast growing plant. This semi-evergreen plant develops runners that take root and spread. The root system is quite extensive and is an excellent product to use on slopes for erosion control. Ajuga grows into a 2 to 4 inch tall groundcover plant and when it flowers in mid-spring it will get about 10 inches in height. After blooming, the flower stems can be trimmed back to the base plant for a neat uniform covering effect.

Ajuga tolerates a wide range of soil conditions as long as the soil is well drained. Heavy waterlogged soil will induce rot and the centers of the plant will die and eventually the rest of the plant will succumb. Pruning is done by mowing or cutting the foliage back to the ground. Thinning is suggested about every 3rd year to reduce the chance of crown rot. They will do best in a lightly shaded area that is moist. They can tolerate full sun and may produce more flowers than they would in the shade. Ajuga provides interest in all four seasons because of its semi-evergreen nature and flowers in the spring. We offer several varieties of Ajuga and they are displayed below.