Bugleweed

Ajuga

Growing in sun or shade on almost any soil; the Ajugas tolerate drought, deer, fire, heat, hail, floods and high winds. Hardy zones 3 to 9 on fertile, well drained soil.
Too much sun may cause scorch on some species, especially variegated ones.
In very cold climates where snowfall isn't reliable; mulching with conifer branches during the winter is recommended. Groundcover under trees should receive supplemental water during drought.
Many of the cultivars are too beautiful to be even considered a weed, they are very easy to grow, rarely being bothered by pests or disease. Bugleweed is not salt tolerant, limiting its uses on some sites.
Propagation is from self rooted layers and division.
Pharmacology: there are reports of the leaves being a mild narcotic though likely NOT safe in large amounts.


* photo taken on May 4 2013 in Columbia, MD

Ajuga genevensis ( Geneva Bugle )
A thick, rhizomatous, mat-forming perennial, reaching up to 6 inches x 4 feet, that is native to Europe ( southern Sweden to western Russia; south to France to Turkey to the Caucasus ).
The toothed, obobovate leaves, up to 5 ( rarely over 2.5 ) inches in length, are metallic green.
The blue flower ( with purple bracts ) spikes, up to 16 inches high, are borne during late spring to early summer.
Hardy zones 2 to 9 in sun or shade on moist but well drained soil.

'Brockbankii'
Deep blue flowers.

'Pink Beauty'
Soft pink flowers borne on upright spikes over a long season.
Not as hardy, only north to zone 5

'Robusta'
Larger leaves

Ajuga pyramidalis ( Pyramid Bugle )
A rhizomatous clump forming, evergreen perennial, reaching up to 3.5 feet in width, that is native to Europe.
The toothed leaves, up to 4.5 x 2 inches, are metallic deep green.
The blue flower spikes, up to 12 inches high, are borne during late spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 in full sun to partial shade.

'Green Crispa'
Very crispy, glossy deep green foliage. The blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring.

'Leprechaun'
Reaches up to 4 inches in height, with very crinkly, deep green foliage and blue flowers borne on short spikes during mid to late spring.

'Purple Crispa'
Very crispy, glossy purple-bronze foliage. The blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring.

Ajuga reptans ( Common Bugle )
Also called Carpet Bugleweed. A fast rhizome spreading, mat forming, evergreen groundcover perennial up to 6 inches x 5 feet, that is native to most of Europe as well as much of western Asia.
The oblong leaves, up to 4 x 1 ( rarely over 2 ) inches in length, are green.
The foliage remains evergreen to as low as 15 F.
The blue flowers, up to 0.6 inches in length, are borne on a spike during mid-spring to early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in sun or shade. Tolerates as low as -40 F with snow cover.
Avoid soggy conditions and keep bed clean to prevent crown rot.

* photos taken on April 13 2010 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on April 18 2010 in Washington, D.C.

* photos taken on April 27 2012 in Columbia, MD
* photo taken on Apr 21 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 4 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Alba'
Bright green foliage and white flowers

'Arboretum Giant'
Very large leaves are green with purple edges.

'Arctic Fox'
Foliage is silvery-gray with a narrow deep green margin.

'Arctic Fox'
Forms a fast spreading clump, up to 5 x 18+ inches in size..
The leaves are creamy-white with a narrow deep green border. There is also a deep green center patch in the middle of the leaf. The spathulate leaves are up to 3.4 x 1.6 inches in size.
The blue flowers are borne on spikes up to 10 inches high.
Hardy zones 4 to 8

'Atropurpurea'
Coppery-purple leaves and bright blue flowers.

* photo taken on July 30 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 19 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 30 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 13 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

'Black Scallop'
Extremely glossy, deep purple to almost black foliage. The rounded leaves average 2.3 x 2.3 inches in size.
Vigorous, reaching up to 6 inches x 1 foot in width in just 1 year, eventually up to 3 + feet wide.

* photos taken on May 15 2011 in Columbia, MD


* photos taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photos taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Druid Hill Park, Baltimore, MD

* photos taken on Oct 30 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 6 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on July 1 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2015 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 14 2016 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Nov 19 2016 @ London Town Gardens, Edgewater, MD

* photo taken on Aug 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Nov 9 2017 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Dec 1 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 7 2018 in Columbia, MD

'Blueberry Muffin'
Form a very vigorous clump, up to 6 x 18 inches in 2 years, eventually wider. Similar to 'Chocolate Chip' but much faster growing ( stolons up to 8 inches long ) and denser.
The leaves are thicker and sturdier than the similar looking 'Chocolate Chip'. The narrow spatulate leaves are up to 2 x 0.5 inches in size. The foliage is deep bronze. The intense deep blue flowers are borne on spikes up to 8 inches high.

* patent photo

'Bronze Beauty'
Waxy metallic, deep bronze foliage and bright blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, borne late spring to early summer.

* photo taken on Sep 9 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 8 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 6 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 5 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Oct 15 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 3 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 9 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Bronze Heart'
Glossy deep purple-bronze foliage and deep blue flower spikes.

'Burgundy Glow'
Foliage is variegated white, pink and purple.
The bright blue flower spikes, up to 9 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 8. Prune out shoots that revert.

* photos taken on June 22 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Apr 8 2015 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on Aug 30 2019 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on May 16 2021 in Ellicott City, MD

* photos taken on Oct 19 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 16 2022 in Ellicott City, MD

'Catlin's Giant'
The "Ajuga on Steroids" with oversized attractive, heavily-textured, luxuriant, bronze leaves, up to 8 x 6 inches, and blue flower spikes, up to 1.5 feet high, borne all summer long.
Clumping at first, it later spreads to form an excellent groundcover,
Excellent for edging.

* photos taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Sep 29 2013 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on Oct 30 2014 in Olney, MD

* photo taken on Apr 24 2015 in Elkridge, MD

* photos taken on Aug 19 2019 in Columbia, MD

'Chocolate Chip'
Bronze foliage forming a mat, up to 3 inches x 3+ feet in size.
The vibrant violet-blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.

* photo taken on June 28 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

* photos taken on Sep 3 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 2013 in Columbia, MD

* taken on Oct 28 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 24 2014 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 16 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 27 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 20 2021 in Columbia, MD

'Cordial Candy'
Similar to 'Chocolate Chip' in habit, this new introduction has smooth-edged, oval to rounded leaves that are intense greenish-yellow. The flowers are mid-blue. It is an introduction from plant hybridizer Chris Hanson in Michigan and will be in stores for spring 2021.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

'Dixie Chip'
Forms a moderate growing mat, up to 2 x 6 inches in 1 year, eventually up to 3 inches x 3+ feet in size. It originated from cultivar 'Chocolate Chip' and is very similar except that the narrow foliage is variegated with a bold white edge. The leaves are up to 2.3 x 0.6 inches in size.
The vibrant violet-blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.

* photos taken on May 7 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 1 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 19 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Sep 5 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 27 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 14 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 26 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 9 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Sep 14 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 20 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 20 2023 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 1 2023 in Columbia, MD

'Fancy Finch'
Similar to 'Chocolate Chip' in habit, this new introduction has narrow, obovate leaves that are red, turning to yellow then to bright green. It is an introduction from plant hybridizer Chris Hanson in Michigan.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

'Gaiety'
Very similar to 'Bronze Beauty' except with darker foliage.

'Genevensis'
Foliage is green. The blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.

'Gold Treasure'
Forms a clump up to 4 x 18 inches in size.
The broadly-spathulate leaves, up to 3 x 1.8 inches in size, are glowing bright yellow.
The pink flowers appear in spikes up to 6 inches high, during mid to late spring. Hardy zones 4 to 8

'Jungle Beauty'
Extremely vigorous, forming a foliage mound of huge, crinkled, glossy, deep purple foliage; reaching up to 8 inches in height.
The deep blue flower spikes, up to 15 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.
Requires fertile, moist soil.

* photo taken on May 2013 in Columbia, MD

'Mahogany'
Blackish-burgundy foliage and very bright blue flowers borne late spring to early summer.

* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co., MD

* photo taken on Aug 3 2012 @ University of Western Ontario, London, ON

'Metallica Crispa'
Forms a very compact, slow growing mat with crinkled deep red leaves, up to 4 x 2 inches. Can be used in the rock garden.
The glossy foliage deepens to almost black during winter.
The deep blue flowers are borne on spikes up to 6 inches high, over a very long season from late spring to mid autumn.
Hardy zones 2 to 9

'Mint Chip'
Forms a very fast growing, thick mat, up to 3 inches x 3+ feet in size.
The foliage is glossy deep green. The spatulate leaves are up to 2.5 x 0.7 inches in size.
The abundant, vibrant violet-blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, appear over a period lasting up to 1.5 months during mid to late spring.
Hardy zones 5 to 8, it has excellent disease resistance.

* patent photos

'Multicolor'
The bronze foliage is variegated with pink and yellow. Every leaf on the plant is colored differently.

'Noble Nightmare'
Similar to 'Chocolate Chip' in habit, this new introduction has narrow, obovate leaves that are very glossy blackish-purple. It is an introduction from plant hybridizer Chris Hanson in Michigan.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

'Pat's Selection'
Puckered foliage that is bronze with pink and creamy-white variegated.

'Petite Parakeet'
Similar to 'Chocolate Chip' in habit, it is an introduction from plant hybridizer Chris Hanson in Michigan. It forms a clump up to 0.5 x 1.5 feet.
The obovate leaves are bright yellow. The leaves have bronze blushing as they age.
The mid-blue flowers appear during mid-spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

'Pink Beauty'
Deep pink flowers.

'Pink Delight'
Crinkled green leaves and bright pink flowers.

'Pink Lightning'
Fast growing, forming a clump up to 3 x 8 inches in 1 year, eventually to 6 inches x 2+ feet. It can spread at a rate up to 12 inches per year.
The ruffled, gray-green leaves are boldly edged creamy-white. The spatulate leaves are up to 3.2 x 2 inches in size.
The mid-pink flowers appear in inflorescences up to 3.5 x 1.2 inches in size, during late spring into early summer.
hardy zones 3 to 8

* photo taken on Apr 11 2015 in Elkridge, MD

* patent photo

'Pink Spires'
Pink flowers borne on stems up to 7 inches high.

'Princess Nadia'
Forms a moderate growing clump, up to 6 x 10 inches in size in 2 years, eventually up to 2 feet wide.
The foliage is similar to that of 'Chocolate Chip' but is purplish-green with a bold broad creamy-white border. The narrow-spathulate leaves are up to 1.5 x 0.4 inches in size.
The deep blue flowers are borne on spikes, up to 8 inches high, during late spring. There is some repeat bloom during late summer.
Hardy zones 4b to 8

* patent photo

'Purple Brockade'
Deep purple foliage turns nearly black during winter.
The flowers are deep blue.

'Purple Torch'
Foliage is bright green turning to bronze during winter.
The lavender-pink flowers are borne on tall spikes.

'Rainbow'
Very attractive foliage variegated in purple, pink and white.
The violet flower spikes, up to 10 inches high, are borne during spring.

* photo of unknown internet source


'Rosea'
Rosy-pink flowers.

'Ruffled Lace'
Reaches up to 6 inches in height, with rich, deep red-purple, crispy foliage.

'Silver Beauty'
Foliage is green and overlaid in gray with a white margin.

'Silver Carpet'
Foliage is silvery-gray with a green border. The blue flower spikes, up to 6 inches high, are borne late spring.

'Silver Queen'
Forms a mat up to 6 x 20 inches in size.
The crinkled, rounded leaves are gray-green amd mottled with white. The foliage turns to deep red during autumn.
The blue flowers appear on spikes up to 8 inches high during mid to late spring.
Hardy zones 3 to 8

* photo taken on Sep 23 2013 in Burtonsville, MD

'Sparkler'
Forms a fast growing clump up to 4 x 16 inches in 1 year, eventually wider.
The foliage is glossy deep green and heavily splashed creamy-white. The variegation turns to pink during winter. The leaves are up to 2 x 0.3 inches in size.
The blue flowers appear during late spring.
Hardy zones 4 to 8.

* photo taken on Apr 8 2015 in Elkridge, MD

* patent photos

'Sugar Plum'
Forms a vigorous, dense mat, up to 3 inches high, expanding in each direction up to 9 inches per year.
The foliage is deep red to purple at first, turning to glossy grey-green with a narrow, creamy-white border. The rounded leaves are up to 1.5 x 1.6 inches in size.
The deep blue flowers appear in spikes, up to 8 inches high, from late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 3 to 8, it has excellent mildew resistance.

* patent photos

'Toffee Chip'
Forms a moderate growing mat, up to 2 x 9 inches in 2 years, eventually up to 3 inches x 2 feet in size. It originated from cultivar 'Chocolate Chip' and is very similar except for mid-green foliage that is variegated with a bold yellow edge. The leaves are up to 2.3 x 0.6 inches in size.
The vibrant violet-blue flower spikes, up to 3.5 inches high, are borne late spring to early summer.

* patent photo

'Variegata'
Foliage is gray-green and flecked with creamy-white variegation.

* photos taken on Oct 17 2011 in Columbia, MD