ajuga
Ajuga reptans
RHS Plants for Pollinators
USDA zones3 to 10
SunHandles full sun or partial sun or full shade
WaterHandles moderate or wet soil
Size6 to 9 inches tall6 to 12 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Habit
- Creeping
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Blue
- Foliage color
- Gray/silver, green, purple/lavender
- Soil types
- Sand, loam, clay
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) is a perennial for ground cover, shade gardens, rock gardens, and pollinator gardens. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun to full shade and average to wet, sandy, loamy, or clay soil. It is not a favorite of deer or rabbits, though hungry ones will eat almost anything. It grows fast and spreads as a low, creeping mat with gray, green, and purple foliage. Blue flowers appear in spring and again in summer, and bees visit them.
Pairs well with Lily of the valley and Magnus coneflower.
Native range
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, and 4 more places. See all 8
Europe, Middle East, Central Asia, Africa, Krym, NW. Balkan Pen., Sicilia, and Türkiye.