Pyramidal Bugle Ajuga pyramidalis
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-JOO-gah peer-ah-mid-AH-liss
- Description
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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:
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- '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'
- 'Bronze Beauty', 'Burgandy Glow', 'Caitlin's Giant', 'Metallica Crispa', 'Mini Crisp Red'
- Tags:
- 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'
- 'Bronze Beauty', 'Burgandy Glow', 'Caitlin's Giant', 'Metallica Crispa', 'Mini Crisp Red'
- Tags:
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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.
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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
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- Fruit Type:
- Nut
- Fruit Description:
- 4 one-seeded nutlets
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Hairy square stems
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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
