Ajuga, Chocolate Chip

Excellent ground cover does best in partial to full shade.  Reaching a height of 3-4 inches, this is right at home as a base plant for the shade garden plants or shrubs.  Blue-violet flowers in spring on 4-6″ spikes are a favorite of bees.  Forms a compact, dense mat that prevents weeds from poking through once established.  2-3″ oval shaped leaves form tight rosettes.  Bronze foliage is most vivid in cooler temperatures of spring and fall.  Stays ‘evergreen’ until temps drop below 15 degrees.  Foliage may show more green than bronze in very dense shade or during very hot, humid times.  Spreads by stolons, but is not invasive.

Popular as a dependable evergreen ground cover for shade and sun in most areas of the USA. ‘Caitlin’s Giant’ is a larger leafed ajuga with purple and green foliage with a ruffled edge. It is more tolerant of soil types than normal ajuga, and is actually quite drought tolerant once established. It performs equally well in sun or shade, and is a vigorous spreader, choking out weeds. Blue flower spikes appear in April through May. The plant grows 8- 10 inches tall and spreads up to 3 feet. It makes an excellent groundcover in shade or sun, but will not tolerate foot traffic well. Use stepping stones for pathways. Flowers are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.