Growing guide · Perennials

Ajuga reptans

How to grow Bugleweed 'Chocolate Chip'.

A chocolate carpet with blue sprinkles.

Light
Full sun, part sun, shade
Water
Moderate
Zones
4–9
Size
2–4 in. tall, 6–8 in. wide
Spacing
6–8 in. apart for quick cover.
Pets
Not on the ASPCA pet-safe list; keep it out of reach
Low mat of small chocolate-bronze leaves with short spikes of blue flowers

Light

Part shade is ideal. Sun is fine with steady moisture; in deep shade the color greens up.

Water

Keep evenly moist, not wet.

Planting and soil

Plant in spring or fall, crown at soil level.

Feeding

None.

Pruning

Mow or shear off spent flower spikes. Pull runners where you don't want them.

Through the year

Semi-evergreen; flowers April–May.

If something's off

Crown rot in wet, crowded, humid spots. It spreads by runners; keep it out of lawns.

Plays well with

Plant it with friends.

Hosta 'Patriot'
HostaHosta 'Patriot' from $35.99
Japanese Painted Fern 'Pictum'
Athyrium niponicum var. pictumJapanese Painted Fern 'Pictum' from $29.99
Coral Bells 'Obsidian'
HeucheraCoral Bells 'Obsidian' from $35.99

Why we stock it: Evergreen-ish dark color at ground level, from sun to shade.

That's everything we know about growing it. Thanks for reading.

Know someone with the right spot? Send them this.

The Sunday Tip · every Sunday

One good plant idea,
every Sunday.

What to plant this week in your zone, every Sunday. New ways to plant and odd tricks that actually work.