Ajuga

Ajuga Groundcover for Sale at Nature Hills Nursery

Fast-growing Ajuga, also known as Bugleweed, is an excellent perennial groundcover that forms a dense carpet of foliage. You'll find a colorful selection of Ajuga plants for sale right here at Nature Hills Nursery.

This semi-evergreen flowering plant spreads by runners that take root as they go, sometimes very fast! It’s perfect for filling bare soil, adding color, and creating texture across your garden.

About Carpet Bugleweed

Also called Carpet Bugleweed, Ground Pine, or Bugle, Ajuga forms a lush, low-growing mat that reaches 2–6 inches tall and blooms in spring. As a member of the Mint Family, it features spinach-like leaves in shades of green, bronze, or purple, with stunning variegated options mixing rose, burgundy, cream, and green!

Flower spikes packed with showy florets attract bees, butterflies, and even hummingbirds. The small, tubular blooms range from deep purple to vibrant blue. Ajuga's foliage is aromatic too, with a fresh minty-resin scent and lovely fall and winter interest that lasts through warmer zones.

Nature Hills offers many Ajuga varieties, each adding a unique look and feel to your landscape with rich color and texture.

Popular Ajuga Varieties

• Black Scallop Ajuga: Dark, glossy burgundy-purple foliage with a nearly black hue
• Chocolate Chip Ajuga: Compact habit and tall purple flower spikes
• Catlin's Giant Ajuga: The largest ornamental Bugleweed variety
• Burgundy Glow Ajuga: Cream, green, and burgundy variegated foliage with burgundy fall tones
• Dixie Chip Ajuga: Narrow-leafed, dwarf-sized, slower-growing Bugleweed

These flowering groundcovers are deer and rabbit-resistant, with few pests or diseases. They thrive in USDA zones 3–11 and tolerate dry soil once established. You'll love their low-maintenance nature and reliable color!

How to Use Bugleweed in the Landscape

Ajuga's extensive root system makes it an excellent choice for naturalizing, groundcovering, and erosion control on slopes or hard-to-mow areas. Try Bronze Beauty Ajuga for a wide, colorful spread and tall purple flower spikes in spring.

Use Ajuga as:

• Colorful edging and border definition
• Living weed-blocking living mulch layer that insulates soil
• A ground-hugging accent beneath trees, shrubs, or perennials
• Container filler or spiller in pots and planters
• A turfgrass alternative in shaded areas
• A hardy, low-growing choice for hell strips or rocky spaces

Ajuga can handle occasional foot traffic, grow between pavers, and fill difficult areas along driveways and sidewalks with ease, ideal for rain gardens or soggy sites.

Choosing the Right Ajuga

Use the USDA Planting Zone Map to filter by zone, sun exposure, and flower color to find the best Ajuga for your landscape.

• Ajuga thrives in partial sun or shade. In cooler climates, it enjoys more sun; in hotter areas, it prefers afternoon shade.
• Sizes vary from compact to wide-spreading varieties ideal for large areas.
• For poor drainage or heavy clay, build a raised berm or grow Ajuga in containers with well-drained soil.
• Looking for drought tolerance? Ajuga makes a great Xeric perennial groundcover.

Caring for Ajuga Groundcover

Ajuga thrives in moist, well-drained soil and partial shade. It tolerates full sun in cool climates but prefers shade in hot regions.

• Water regularly during establishment and use the Finger Test to check moisture
• Mulch 3–4 inches deep to protect roots and retain moisture
• Deadhead or trim flower spikes after blooming to keep plants neat
• Shear or mow larger areas as needed
• Divide clumps every few years to prevent crown rot, similar to dividing perennials
• For best results, start with quality plants and follow our perennial planting guide.

Once established, Ajuga is very hardy and spreads beautifully with minimal upkeep. You'll enjoy a living carpet of texture and color that thrives for years to come!