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Ajuga reptans

bugle

RHS Plant Shop from £2.99 Sold by 17 nurseries

  • Other common names bugle
    brown bugle

    carpenter's herb
    middle compound
    middle consound
    yellow bugle

    see more

  • Synonyms Ajuga repens

  • Family Lamiaceae

  • Genus Ajuga are mostly spreading, rhizomatous perennials with attractive evergreen foliage, rarely annuals, with whorled two-lipped flowers forming short spikes

  • Details A. reptans is a spreading stoloniferous perennial to 15cm in height, forming a wide mat of dark green obovate leaves, with erect spikes of dark blue flowers in late spring and early summer

  • Plant range Europe, Iran, SW Asia

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Mat forming

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H7

Colour

Sunlight

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureMoist but well-drained, Poorly-drained

  • SoilClay, Chalk, Loam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Good ground cover plant, although may be considered invasive. Will scorch in full sun. Will tolerate poor soils

Propagation Propagate by division, separating rooted stems

Suggested planting locations and garden types Banks and Slopes Low Maintenance Flower borders and beds Ground Cover Cottage & Informal Garden Wildflower meadow Wildlife Gardens

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases May suffer from powdery mildews

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Ajuga reptans

bugle

Buy from £2.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £2.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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