Carpet Bugle
Ajuga reptans
Also listed as Ajuga vulgaris, Bugula reptans
Also known as Bugle, Common Bugle, Creeping Bugle
Climate Match for your location
See how well Carpet Bugle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing groundcover with small purple-blue flowers and attractive bronze-tinged foliage that spreads rapidly via runners. Excellent for filling in bare spots and suppressing weeds in shaded areas.
Why grow it
Carpet bugle establishes faster and more densely than many shade-tolerant groundcovers, making it particularly useful for quickly stabilizing bare soil under trees or in woodland edges. It tolerates poor fertility better than alternatives like English ivy, requiring less soil amendment, and its low profile works well in layered planting schemes without shading out adjacent perennials significantly.
Watch out for
In consistently moist conditions, carpet bugle can develop powdery mildew or leaf spot, so ensure adequate air circulation around plantings. While drought-tolerant once established, young plantings benefit from regular watering during the first growing season, especially in hot climates where it may struggle without afternoon shade.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing groundcover with small purple-blue flowers and attractive bronze-tinged foliage that spreads rapidly via runners. Excellent for filling in bare spots and suppressing weeds in shaded areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Carpet Bugle grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Carpet bugle establishes faster and more densely than many shade-tolerant groundcovers, making it particularly useful for quickly stabilizing bare soil under trees or in woodland edges. It tolerates poor fertility better than alternatives like English ivy, requiring less soil amendment, and its low profile works well in layered planting schemes without shading out adjacent perennials significantly.
Watch out for
In consistently moist conditions, carpet bugle can develop powdery mildew or leaf spot, so ensure adequate air circulation around plantings. While drought-tolerant once established, young plantings benefit from regular watering during the first growing season, especially in hot climates where it may struggle without afternoon shade.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Lamiaceae
Native Range
Europe
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.