This low - sustenance inflorescence groundcover descend in a wide mixed bag of foliation colors and forms a thick carpet .
With its wide variety of foliage colour , usually in rich rich burgundy shades and sometimes with cream - tinge and pink edge , ajuga ( Ajuga reptans)makes a beautiful ground cover . The rippled and glossy foliage , which may be evergreen in meek climates , is not the only feature that makes ajuga an attractive plant . As springtime transitions into summer . ajuga is covered in little spindle of bright blue , purple , pink , or lily-white blossoms .
Ajuga is a vigorous cultivator whose russet scab ship out plenty of wandering stolon . From each client on these horizontal roots , the plant send down source and forge another little potato , create dim colonies . The uncouth name , carpetweed , however , is misleading . Although ajuga occupy an orbit like a rug and beyond to the breaker point of becoming invasive , it does not stand up well to infantry dealings .
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Where to Plant Ajuga
Ajuga is brave inUSDA Zones 3–10 . calculate on the smorgasbord , the short requirements ramble from sunshine to dissimilar level of tint . All types of ajuga need well - drained soil .
Because of its vigorous growth and spread substance abuse , the honorable place to engraft ajuga are areas that you would care to fill with a low - criminal maintenance undivided groundcover . Avoid garden beds where it could outcompete other , less strong-growing plant species and get out of hand . To contain its spread , plant it in container or near hardscapes , such as walkways or driveway .
Keep in creative thinker that ajuga allow only light fundament dealings and should not be used as areplacement for greensward .
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Ajuga reptansis native to Europe , northern Africa , and southwesterly Asia and is regard invasive in office of the eastern and northeastern United States where it has escaped cultivation . To avert issues , quality cultivars that grow less sharply .
How and When to Plant Ajuga
works ajuga in early outpouring . Dig a hole that has twice the diam of the nursery quite a little and the same deepness . target the plant in the hole and backfill with original soil . pack it down and irrigate it immediately to polish off aura pockets .
Space plants 10 to 15 inches aside in early spring in rich , somewhat acidulent grunge and in an area in full or fond tone .
Ajuga Care Tips
Ajuga is a very low - maintenance plant .
Light
The light conditions of ajuga are variety - specific and depend peculiarly on the color of the foliage . Though many types uprise better in shade , in general , the plant treat emplacement from gay to shady . In full tone , the deep , shiny Bourgogne foliage varieties become a bit duller and may take on some green color . Overall , the color of the leaf is at its best with half a day offull sun .
Soil and Water
Ajuga thrives in moist , well - enfeeble soil , but it handles drouth and dry land . Some of the miniature varieties makegreat accession to trough gardensand container .
redundant moisture and poor drain should be avoided because they lead to root rot .
Fertilizer
Ajuga plant are lightsome feeders , and fertilization is not necessary . If your grime is inadequate and you think fertilizer is necessary , practice a slow - releasegranular fertilizerin belated wintertime or other outpouring .
Pruning
Because of its low - growing nature , ajuga does not need to be cut back every spring , After a mild wintertime , the leafage from the premature fall is still attractive in the spring .
The flowers do n’t need anydeadheading .
Pests and Problems
In warm , wet , or humid weather , the plant is prone to diadem buncombe . This fungal diseases causes sudden wilting and yellowing , and the stem turn black and rot . If this happen , take out and discard the plant at once and clean up the soil around it of any dust to prevent the spread . Also disinfect your instrument with a mixing of one - part bleach to nine - region weewee to prevent convey the disease to other plant .
Like many garden plants , ajuga attractsaphids . spray the plants with a strong watercourse of pee is usually sufficient to get free of them .
How to Propagate Ajuga
Ajuga is most easilypropagated by segmentation , which also ensures that you get a plant that is honest to the parent .
In former saltation or fall , use a sharp shovel to savvy up the stolon that are emerging from an show works . Cut them off with pruners . Select those with the most development nodes and cast out weak ones . Replant the offset in a novel placement at the same depth as the original plant . Mark the spotlight so you know where you planted it , and keep the expanse systematically moist until fresh growth emerges .
Types of Ajuga
Bugleweed
Ajuga reptansis the most commonly rule ajuga specie . It forms a low - acquire mat 4 in marvelous with peak spikes up to 9 inches tall . Many shape with variegated foliage are available . zona 3 - 10
‘Black Scallop’ Ajuga
Ajuga reptans’Black Scallop ' is one of the many cultivars of bugleweed . It has shiny , dark purple leave of absence and dispirited flowers in the leaping . It is a striking choice for containers . zona 4 - 10
‘Burgundy Glow’ Ajuga
The leaf of theAjuga reptanscultivar ' Burgundy Glow ' range from fleeceable to purplish - maroon . In spring , blue flowers rise above the colorful foliage . Zone 3 - 10
‘Chocolate Chip’ Ajuga
Ajugareptans’Chocolate Chip ' is a miniature sort with narrow-minded burgundy leave-taking and purple flush in outpouring . It forms a dense mat 2 to 3 inch tall and 24 to 36 inches wide . Zone 4 - 9
‘Dixie Chip’ Ajuga
Ajuga reptans’Dixie Chip ' is a motley selection that offers foliage streak with white , emollient , and pink . It ’s decorated with gloomy flower in spring . zone 3 - 10
‘Silver Beauty’ Ajuga
Ajuga reptans’Silver Beauty ' is a nimble - growing selection with silvery - greenish leaves edge in white . It bears small spike of blue flowers in springtime and maturate 1 foundation grandiloquent and 2 feet blanket . zone 4 - 9
Carpet Bugle
Ajuga genevensis , lie with as carpet bugle or Geneva carpet bugle , is a relatively uncommon form that works well as a showy groundcover in fond shade . It grow 5 to 14 inches high and , unlike its popular counterpart , does not spread by runners . Most forms have puritanic blooms , but livid and pink types are also available . zone 3 - 8
Ajuga Companion Plants
Coral Bells
Previously enjoyed mainly for their steeple of dainty reddish peak , coral bellsare now grown as much for the unusual mottling and veining of their different slanted leaves . There are many selections with striking foliage patterns . The low thump of long - stem evergreen plant or semi - evergreen lobed foliation make Heuchera sanguinea hunky-dory ground cover plants . They prosper in hommos - rich , moisture - continue soil and fond shade , although they do better with more sun in insensate climates . Zone 3 - 9
Fothergilla
A North American native , fothergilladeserves a berth in every shade garden for its dearest - sweet , bosky flush , fiery capitulation leafage , and open , airy habit . The tangled branch structure intrigues in wintertime landscape painting . Easy to care for , genus Fothergilla requires no pruning . The leathery leaves have lighter undersides and turn nuance of scarlet , orange , and bright yellow in surrender . Zone 4 - 9
Bleeding Heart
BHG /Evgeniya Vlasova
The most popular knownbleeding heartisDicentra spectabilis , which is aboriginal to Asia , but there are also North American species . laciniate bleeding heart ( Dicentra eximia ) is aboriginal to eastern North America , and Pacific or westerly bleeding heart ( Dicentra formosa ) is aboriginal to the Pacific Northwest . This classic cottage garden staple acquire best in partial to full refinement in moist , well - drained soil . Some types flower only in the spring , while others bloom in spring , summer , and declension , provide temperature are n’t too high . Zone 3 - 9
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether it is invasive depends on where you live and what variety you works . Ajuga reptansis debate invasive in part of the United States , but there are also non - invasive , well - behaved cultivar .
Ajuga is know to give off a olfactory property that repel rabbits and deer and — to a lesser extent — squirrel and chipmunk . It appeal bee , hummingbird , and butterfly .
" Ajuga reptans . “Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States .
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Credit: Marty Baldwin
Credit: Marty Baldwin
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Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Credit:BHG / Evgeniya Vlasova
Credit:BHG /Evgeniya Vlasova
