'Chocolate Chip' Bugleweed (Ajuga)
Perennial
- Appealing maroon foliage adds color and texture.
- Spikes of bright blue flowers in early summer.
- Super low-maintenance and durable.
- Dense habit spreads nicely and controls weeds.
- Zones 4-9, sun/part sun/shade, 3" tall x 12" wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Buying landscape plugs? Here is how much area they will cover:
- 6" spacing of 32 landscape plugs covers 6 sq feet
- 8" spacing covers 7.5 sq feet
- 10" spacing covers 11 sq feet
- 12" spacing covers 16 sq feet
Details
Common name: Bugleweed, carpet bugle, bugle, ground pine, carpenter's herb
Zone: 4 - 9
Sun exposure: Sun (> 6 hours sun), part-sun (4-6 hours sun), shade (< 4 hours sun)
Soil type: Average
Soil Moisture: Average to moist
Height x width: 3" x 12"
Flower color: Dark blue and violet
Foliage color: Burgundy and chocolate
Season of interest: Late spring
Bloom time: Spring, summer
Features: Rabbit resistant, heat tolerant, drought tolerant, ground covers, deer resistant, cold tolerant, best for beginners
Uses: Container gardening, edging, ground cover, rock garden, stepping stones, small spaces, slopes
How to Grow
Light: Will grow in full sun or shade, but the best foliage color usually occurs in part-sun locations (at least 3-4 hours of sun per day).
Water: Easily grown in average soils.
Spacing: Space plants 6-9" apart, but be careful to not plant too deep. The crown should never be covered with soil, or the plant may rot.
Fertilizing: Ajugas seldom need fertilizing. Over-fertilizing can encourage crown rot.
Winterizing: No specific care is needed.
Maintenance & pruning: Every couple of years, thin out crowded groupings to reduce the chance of crown rot. Pruning is not required but can be done to rejuvenate foliage after flowering. Larger plantings may be mowed if they become unruly. Plants can be propagated by dividing established clumps in the fall or early spring.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.