With minimal care, colorful Ajuga creates a lush, colorful carpet in your garden while suppressing weeds
Ajuga (Carpet Bugleweed) is a low-maintenance, fast-spreading groundcover known for its colorful foliage and vibrant blue-purple flowers in spring. It thrives in shady areas where grass struggles to grow.
Carpet Ajuga is one of the most popular types of ajuga species used as a groundcover. With a height of only a foot and a fair amount of tolerance for both foot traffic and mowing, many gardeners in Zones 3 through 10 have used this perennial ground cover to choke out weeds and for vegetation under trees.
How to Plant Ajuga
Growing & Caring for Ajuga
✔ Watering – Keep soil moist but not soggy, especially when newly planted. Once established, Ajuga is drought-tolerant.
✔ Mulching – Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
✔ Pruning – Trim or mow after flowering to maintain a tidy appearance and prevent excessive spreading.
✔ Fertilizing – Generally not needed, but a light application of balanced fertilizer in spring can boost growth.
✔ Managing Spread – Ajuga spreads via runners and can become invasive. Remove unwanted growth and divide clumps every few years to control spread.
Best Uses for Ajuga
Carpet Ajuga is one of the most popular types of ajuga species used as a groundcover. With a height of only a foot and a fair amount of tolerance for both foot traffic and mowing, many gardeners in Zones 3 through 10 have used this perennial ground cover to choke out weeds and for vegetation under trees.
How to Plant Ajuga
- This groundcover prefers partial to full shade, though it can tolerate some sun. Grows well in moist, well-draining soil but adapts to various conditions.
- Likes loose soil mixed with compost for good drainage and nutrients.
- Avoid heavy clay soil, which can lead to root rot.
- Space plants 8–12 inches apart to allow for spreading.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball, place the plant in, and backfill with soil.
- Water well after planting.
Growing & Caring for Ajuga
✔ Watering – Keep soil moist but not soggy, especially when newly planted. Once established, Ajuga is drought-tolerant.
✔ Mulching – Apply a thin layer of mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
✔ Pruning – Trim or mow after flowering to maintain a tidy appearance and prevent excessive spreading.
✔ Fertilizing – Generally not needed, but a light application of balanced fertilizer in spring can boost growth.
✔ Managing Spread – Ajuga spreads via runners and can become invasive. Remove unwanted growth and divide clumps every few years to control spread.
Best Uses for Ajuga
- Groundcover for shady areas
- Erosion control on slopes
- Under trees and shrubs
- Filling gaps in rock gardens
Important note: Ajuga is in the mint family and spreads rapidly via underground runners (just like mint). It can be difficult to get rid of. Less aggressive options are "Geneva carpet bugleweed" or the native alumroot (Heuchera americana).