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.
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.
Does Ajuga spread quickly?
Ajuga reptans, sometimes known as carpet bugleweed, is a prominent ground cover. It spreads rapidly by runners, forming a mat of dark green leaves 2 to 3 inches across in full sun and 3 to 4 inches wide in part shade. In full sun, selections with bronze or metallic-tinted leaves hold their color the best. The flowers, which are usually blue, are borne on spikes that are 4 to 5 inches tall. Early May to mid-June is when the plant blooms. Set aside established plants in the spring and they will cover the soil in one growing season. Plants should not be planted too deeply. It’s never a good idea to hide the crown. Runner plants can be dug out and replaced in the spring or early fall from established plantings.
Ajuga genevensis (Geneva carpet Bugleweed) is a perennial rock garden plant that grows 5 to 14 inches tall. It has grayish, hairy stems and coarse-toothed leaves up to 3 inches long that do not spread via runners. Blue flower spikes are the most common, but rose and white varieties are also available. Because it spreads more slowly than A. reptans, this upright species is gaining popularity. It is more sun tolerant than other Ajuga species.
Ajuga pyramidalis (Upright Bugleweed) is a 2 to 10 inch tall erect plant. Runners are not involved in the propagation of this disease. Many roundish, 11/2 to 4-inch long leaves grow from the stems, which contain long grey hairs. The huge purple bracts appear to press against the blue blooms on the flower spikes, which are 4 to 6 inches long.
Where does chocolate chip Ajuga grow?
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.
How fast does chocolate chip ajuga spread?
Its growth behavior is described by the Latin word reptans, which means crawling. Ajuga was an ancient medical plant that was employed as a wound coagulant, earning it the nickname “carpenter’s herb.” Forms a dense carpet 2 to 3 inches tall that spreads gently over 24 to 36 inches.
Is ajuga Chocolate Chip poisonous to dogs?
Dog-safe creeping evergreen plants for shady gardens include partridge berry, running box, twinberry or twinflower (Mitchella repens), and carpet or common bugleweed (Ajuga reptans). The partridge berry reaches a height of 2 inches and a breadth of 1 foot when fully grown. It produces beautiful white flowers in the spring and summer, followed by delicious red berries that last into the winter, albeit the berries are bland.
Is ajuga perennial or annual?
Don’t be fooled by a plant’s size. Ajugas may be little, but they are strong and hardy groundcovers. They can help with erosion control on a bank or slope, fill in a patchy lawn where grass won’t grow, or simply offer color to shaded areas. They’re also excellent for planting beneath bushes and trees.
Ajugas are very attractive because their leaf color and attractiveness last virtually all year, and they produce blue, purple, or white blooms from spring to summer. Ajuga reptans, sometimes known as carpetweed or bugleweed, is a perennial that thrives in zones 3 to 9.
The lustrous leaves of these evergreen shrubs form dense mats. They can tolerate full sun to partial shade, but full sun brings out the greatest color in the leaf. Ajugas are easy to cultivate in practically any type of soil and prefer a moist, well-draining environment, but they can endure dryness for short periods of time.
Because ajuga spreads through stolons, or horizontal stems that creep along the ground, it’s important to consider where you plant it. This mint family member spreads quickly and can become invasive. Planting too close to flower beds, lawns, or other areas where you’ll have to remove it frequently is a bad idea. If you’re worried that ajuga is an invasive plant in your area, check out the Invasive Plant Atlas.
Plant ajugas when all dangers of frost have passed. Then, spacing the holes 8 to 15 inches apart, dig holes just deep enough for the root balls. Gently loosen the roots of the plants, then plant them and firm the dirt around them. To settle them in and eliminate air pockets, water them thoroughly. Fertilizing ajugas is rarely necessary.
To keep your ajugas from becoming overloaded, you should thin them every three years or so. If desired, divide and replant established clumps in the fall or early spring.
Crown rot is an issue, particularly in hot, humid climates or in heavy soils. It’s easy to notice since the lower leaves have rot and spots on the tops of the plants. Give your plants plenty of air circulation and avoid overfertilizing to avoid this illness. Crown rot has no treatment, therefore if it appears, you’ll have to uproot and destroy the damaged plants. When it’s time to replant, consider a new type of groundcover to reduce the chances of the problem reappearing.
Patches of ajuga will occasionally die. If this occurs, remove the dead leaves but leave the roots in place. In most cases, the plants will return the next year.
Ajugas are low-maintenance plants with good rabbit and deer resistance. They don’t need to be pruned, but if you want them to look a little neater after the blooms fade, mow them using a high setting on your mower.
Try coral bells, hostas, ferns, daffodils, astilbe, forget-me-not, violas, hardy geraniums, and other woodland species if your ajugas are in the shadow.
Seeds
Planting seeds is one technique to begin propagating ajuga plants. Sow ajuga plant seeds in containers in the fall or spring if you chose to do so. Simply apply a small layer of compost to the seeds and keep the soil moist.
In a month or less, the seeds germinate. Individual plants should be pricked out and placed in larger containers. Move the young plants to your garden beds in the summer.
Division
Stolons, which are underground runners, spread Ajuga. The plant is rooted in neighboring soil by these runners, which create clumps. The ajuga clumps will soon get overcrowded, and their strength will wane. Now is the moment to lift and divide them so that you can have more ajuga plants.
Ajuga division propagation is best done in the early spring or late fall. It’s a straightforward procedure. Simply dig up the clumps, pull or chop them apart into smaller portions, and transplant them in a different spot.
You may also just chop away large portions of plant mats similar to lawn sod and relocate them.
Can you eat ajuga?
Ajuga reptans – Bugle: The grass would have to be allowed to grow a little longer than usual for this to work. It thrives in moist, partially shady environments, and the young shoots can be eaten raw in salads. The young leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, and the root is edible but bitter.
Does ajuga choke 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.