The Lamiaceae (mint) family’s chocolate chip bugleweed is an evergreen, ground-hugging herbaceous perennial. It can be found throughout Europe, northern Africa, and southwest Asia. Oval chocolate-colored leaves with burgundy highlights and bluish-purple flower spikes bloom in mid- to late spring on this variety.
This plant prefers humus-rich, wet, well-drained soil and moderate to full shade.
It spreads to form a mat and, over time, develops into an attractive ground cover that is resistant to deer and rabbits and simple to grow. In the spring or fall, divide the plant if it becomes too crowded, or propagate it from seed.
Use this plant in containers, borders, or under trees and bushes in compact spaces. Plant it in a butterfly, cottage, pollinator, rock, or shadow garden to attract butterflies, hummingbirds, and pollinators.
Crown rot is a problem for this plant. Insects, diseases, and other plant problems:This plant is prone to crown rot. Planting in heavy clay should be avoided, as should overcrowding. It has the potential to turn weedy.
Does Ajuga Chocolate Chip spread?
This low-growing bugleweed forms a lovely mat-like ground cover in the garden thanks to its stolons (reptans means creeping). If necessary, plants can be trimmed back to the ground after flowering to regenerate the foliage.
Do perennials grow Ajuga?
Hardy perennials that hug the ground and generate leaf carpets around trees and shrubs. Their blue-toned flowers go well with early perennials like spring bulbs. There are a variety of varieties available, including those with green, bronze-purple, or marbled leaf.
How fast does Ajuga spread?
Ajuga will try to conquer the entire region in its immediate proximity. Although it is an aggressive spreader, it is relatively easy to contain because it spreads over the ground.
It is recommended that you use a shovel or a spade to edge the borders of the territory limit assigned to Ajuga twice a year, once in the spring and once in the middle of summer.
There is no need to be concerned because this plant does not spread quickly; rather, it spreads slowly and steadily.
You should not plant this next to a lawn because grass cannot compete with it and will quickly become overrun, leaving you with an Ajuga lawn rather than a grass lawn.
Is Ajuga a hardy?
In late spring, tiny spires of brilliant blooms crown the lush growth of this appealing rhizomatous perennial. This plant makes a great ground cover, especially in shady places.
Leaves are glossy, obovate, green orbronze in shape. Everlasting (except in severe winters). There are several varied varieties to choose from.
Any moist garden soil would suffice. Chalk, clay, sand, or loam are all examples of soil types. Poor and chalky soils will tollerate.
The best growing conditions are in partial shade.
More sun is preferred by variegated types. In full sun, it is susceptible to burning.
How much sun can ajuga take?
These plants can grow in any generally well-drained soil, and while they tolerate full sun, they develop more quickly in partial shade. Plant these perennials 6 to 12 inches apart in the spring or early fall.
How do you care for a chocolate chip bugleweed?
Water: Grows easily in normal soils. Plants should be spaced 6 to 9 inches apart, but not too deeply. If the crown of the plant is ever covered by earth, the plant will decay. Fertilization: Ajugas are rarely fertilized.
Will ajuga choke out other plants?
There’s no doubting that Bishop’s Weed in variegated form is a lovely plant. It thrives in shady areas where splotches of white are needed to liven things up. But you’ll never be able to enjoy just a smidgeon of Bishop’s Weed. Its roots form a dense mat as it grows, suffocating any neighboring vegetation. While this may sound like a good way to keep weeds at bay, it will eventually take over your garden plants as well.
Bishop’s Weed was initially labeled as invasive in Rhode Island in 1863, although you can still get it for sale. You may probably determine it’s a member of the carrot family by looking at the white, umbel blossoms, which look a lot like Queen Anne’s Lace. The plant does attract helpful insects, so it has some virtues, but it is simply the incorrect plant for many situations.
If you’ve already planted Bishop’s Weed and regret it, the best way to get rid of it is to use up all of your resources. In the early spring, cut it as short as possible and cover the area with plastic. The plants are unable to photosynthesize, receive insufficient water, and are overheated. They ultimately give up, even if it takes a long time.
Goutweed (a mashup of goat weedgoats will eat it) and Snow on the Mountain are other names for Bishop’s Weed.
How do you control an ajuga ground cover?
Using impermeable black plastic sheeting, cover huge portions of ajuga to be removed (weed mulch or heavy garbage bags). Leave the area alone for at least four weeks after anchoring it with rocks. This deprives the plant of both light and water, severely limiting its ability to thrive.
Do animals eat ajuga?
Some ground coverings, like lilyturf, are invasive. Before using these plants, you’ll have to evaluate your worries about deer management against any issues about their invasiveness. These ground covers, like lilyturf, are such fast growth that you may want to keep them in check:
- This invasive plant, also known as ajuga (Ajuga reptans), is not eaten by invading deer, making it valuable for deer management. It blooms in a bluish-purple color. Ajuga may be planted in zones 3 to 10, and it usually stays short, though it does gain a few inches when in flower. Ajuga is a simple plant to growalmost too simple. It may grow in full sun or partial shade, and it doesn’t mind what kind of soil it’s in as long as it has proper drainage. It will grow into a dense mat with both lovely foliage and blooms. However, it will appear all over the terrain, frequently in unwelcome locations.
- Vinca minor, often known as creeping myrtle or periwinkle vinca vine, is a perennial ground cover used as a grass substitute in grassy areas and as a deer deterrent. Creeping myrtle, which grows in zones 4 to 8, requires good drainage. This shade-loving, deer-resistant ground cover is frequently planted under huge trees, where a lawn grass would have quickly died due to a lack of sunshine. The vine of the creeping myrtle grows just 3 to 6 inches above the ground, but its trailing stems with evergreen leaves can reach up to 18 inches in length. As the stems creep along the ground, they root at the nodes and spread quickly to make an attractive ground cover. It’s appealing, but it’s also intrusive. Keep it under control to avoid it spreading to places you don’t want it to. In the spring, the creeping myrtle produces a bluish-lavender flower, which blooms intermittently throughout the summer.
- Deadnettle (Lamium maculatum) and yellow archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) are close relatives. Both are invasive (yellow archangel is the worst culprit), variegated, shade-loving perennials with poor drainage. Landscapers who want to keep deer out can use them. They grow 1 to 2 feet tall with a similar spread and may be cultivated in zones 4 to 9. Deadnettle has purplish or white flowers, whereas yellow archangel has yellow flowers. Both are renowned for their leaves. The leaves of the yellow archangel have a medium green tint with silver splotches. The silver content of deadnettle leaves is higher than the green content. Both are considered good plants for dry shade once established.