Sugar Plum Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans 'Sugar Plum')
ah-JEW-gah REP-tanz 'Sugar Plum'

Evergreen Perennial Low Spreading in the Lamiaceae Family

Ever heard the phrase “too much of a good thing?”

Ajuga reptans (Bugleweed to us laypeople) is a beautiful, 3” tall groundcover that is hardy, evergreen, attracts pollinators, and puts out beautiful cones of flowers for a few months each spring. Quiet and stealthy, it can spread into your lawn and other areas of the garden if not kept in check.

Ajuga is an amazing addition to rock gardens, walkways, and wetter areas. It's tough and once established after a few years, it is an aggressive grower that can withstand almost anything you throw at it. That being said…even deer and rabbits don’t like this stuff. Ajuga forms a dense mat of roots that will smother other plants in its path, and can grow almost anywhere. If you’re looking for a super-tough, resilient, tiny and beautiful beast of a groundcover, Ajuga will not disappoint. If you’re looking for something that “plays nice…” might we recommend a well-behaved alternative?

Pros

  • Thrives in part shade to full sun
  • Deer and rabbit resistant
  • Will grow in most soil and moisture conditions
  • Stays low, making it an excellent alternative to grass
  • Attracts pollinators
  • Will grow in gardens, yards, planters, probably a hot asphalt road…

Cons

  • Likes to grow and grow and grow, sometimes even where you don’t want it
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 6 - 8 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Partial Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium - Wet
Zones 4a - 9b (Usually hardy to -30° F)
Tags Attracts Birds, Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Pollinators, Attracts Pollinators, Colorful Foliage, Colorful Foliage, Container, Container, Deer Resistant, Deer Resistant, Edging, Edging, Evergreen, Evergreen, Extended Bloom Time, Extended Bloom Time, Fall Color, Fall Color, For a Shady Spot, For a Shady Spot, Full Sun, Full Sun, Good for Accents, Good for Accents, Good for Borders, Good for Borders, Good for Butterfly Garden, Good for Butterfly Garden, Groundcover, Groundcover, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Grown For Attractive Foliage, Medium, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Non-Allergenic, Normal Soil, Normal Soil, Partial Shade, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Partial Sun, Perennial, Perennial, Rabbit Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Shade Tolerant, Shade Tolerant, Spillers, Spillers, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Tolerant of Moist Soil, Variegated Foliage, Variegated Foliage, Well-Drained Soil, Well-Drained Soil, Wet, Wet, Wet Site Tolerant, Wet Site Tolerant
Bloom Period May to June
Flower Color Blue
Foliage Color

Photos of This with...

Roy Davidson Lungwort
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!