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Pyramidal Bugle Ajuga pyramidalis

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ah-JOO-gah peer-ah-mid-AH-liss
Description

Ajuga pyramidalis is a perennial plant from the Lamiaceae (mint family).  It is ground cover with year-round interest that forms by spreading from short rhizomes up to 12 inches.  The pale blue-violet, spiked inflorescence blooms May to June.  The flowers may be mowed or weedwacked off when blooms are finished to help enhance the foliage appearance.   Mass plant it in a border front, foundation plant, entryway,  container, or use it as an edging or in a rock garden. Propagate it by removing daughter plants or by crown division.  The stems are rooted shallowly in the first year of growth and are easily removed but if left to grow it can spread into surrounding planting beds and lawns and become quite dense and difficult to move.  This plant is resistant to browsing by deer and rabbits and can be planted near black walnut trees.

In Latin Ajuga means as "without yoke and reptans means "creeping", which refers to the plant's spreading runners.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:  Crown rot in very wet conditions or dieback under prolonged extremely dry conditions.  It slowly invades other planting sites through its rooting runners.

 

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bronze Beauty'
    Green-bronze, deep purple in the fall
  • 'Burgandy Glow'
    aka 'Burgandy Lace' pink, white, green variegated
  • 'Caitlin's Giant'
    Large foliage, medium-bold texture
  • 'Metallica Crispa'
    Pleated glossy burgandy dark green, compact, good for rock garden, not as vigorus
  • 'Mini Crisp Red'
'Bronze Beauty', 'Burgandy Glow', 'Caitlin's Giant', 'Metallica Crispa', 'Mini Crisp Red'
Tags:
#cultivars#hardy#purple flowers#nectar plant#lawn alternative#rabbit resistant#year-round interest#edging#aggressive#deer resistant#rock garden#pollinator plant#flowers late spring#border front#flowers early summer#nectar plant late spring#nectar plant early summer#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#black walnut toxicity tolerant#perennial#weed#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bronze Beauty'
    Green-bronze, deep purple in the fall
  • 'Burgandy Glow'
    aka 'Burgandy Lace' pink, white, green variegated
  • 'Caitlin's Giant'
    Large foliage, medium-bold texture
  • 'Metallica Crispa'
    Pleated glossy burgandy dark green, compact, good for rock garden, not as vigorus
  • 'Mini Crisp Red'
'Bronze Beauty', 'Burgandy Glow', 'Caitlin's Giant', 'Metallica Crispa', 'Mini Crisp Red'
Tags:
#cultivars#hardy#purple flowers#nectar plant#lawn alternative#rabbit resistant#year-round interest#edging#aggressive#deer resistant#rock garden#pollinator plant#flowers late spring#border front#flowers early summer#nectar plant late spring#nectar plant early summer#partial shade tolerant#bee friendly#black walnut toxicity tolerant#perennial#weed#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Ajuga
    Species:
    pyramidalis
    Family:
    Lamiaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Root Cutting
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe
    Wildlife Value:
    Nectar from flowers attract bees.
    Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
    this plant is resistant to damage by deer, rabbit, black walnut
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Perennial
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Fruit Type:
    Nut
    Fruit Description:
    4 one-seeded nutlets
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Tubular
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    Part of the flower is a zygomorphic corolla. Has spike-like inflorescence with dense axillary whorls that paper late spring through early summer.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Semi-evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are 4-inch leaves, deep green, elliptic-ovate, basal rosette and opposite on stem and densely haired.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Square
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Hairy square stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Meadow
    Woodland
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Rock Garden
    Shade Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Black Walnut
    Deer
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Rabbits
    Problems:
    Weedy