Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans 'Purple Brocade')
Ajuga reptans 'Purple Brocade' is a low-growing Bugleweed offering striking purplish foliage and blue-violet spikes. Perfect ground cover.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’, widely known as Bugleweed, is prized for its dense, mat-forming habit and superior ornamental foliage. This cultivar distinguishes itself by featuring thick, purplish leaves marked with a distinct brocaded texture, offering season-long interest even when not in bloom. As a rapid spreader via stolons, this low-growing Bugleweed quickly establishes the dense cover necessary to choke out unwanted weeds in difficult garden spaces.
This herbaceous perennial thrives across a versatile range of light conditions, performing best where it receives several hours of direct sun to bring out the best foliage color. While it is remarkably tough and easy to manage, gardeners should ensure adequate air circulation, particularly in humid climates, to avoid common fungal issues. Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ provides an excellent, colorful solution for blanketing slopes or under the dappled shade beneath mature trees.
When in flower, the display of tiny, dark bluish-purple flower spikes rising above the foliage creates a striking ground-level tapestry. Its low maintenance requirements and effectiveness as a tough ground cover make Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ a staple choice for landscape designers seeking perpetual, colorful coverage.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.5-0.75 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Bluish purple
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ in average, well-drained soil during the spring or fall for best establishment. While it can tolerate moderately dry spells once established, it prefers moist, humusy soils. Ensure the site receives at least 3-4 hours of sun daily to achieve the richest purplish foliage color; deep shade will result in greener leaves. Space plants 6 to 9 inches apart if you desire prompt coverage across a wider area.
Maintenance for this Bugleweed is generally low. Water consistently to keep the soil medium moist, especially during establishment. If plants become overly crowded, divide them to rejuvenate the clump and manage spread. Spent flower spikes can be removed by cutting the plants back close to the ground after flowering to encourage fresh, tidy foliage growth.
For large swaths of this ground cover, you can utilize a high mower setting to slice over the planting, effectively removing old spikes and tidying the look. Be mindful that the spreading nature of Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ means it can invade adjacent areas, so strategic placement is key. Promptly remove any reverted, non-variegated leaves that may appear on the foliage.
Landscape Uses
The primary strength of Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ lies in its role as an effective, low-maintenance ground cover. It excels at filling large, challenging shady areas where traditional turf grasses struggle to establish. Consider planting this Bugleweed on banks or slopes, utilizing its spreading habit to slow erosion and provide visual interest throughout the season.
It functions beautifully as an informal border or as a thriving carpet beneath larger shrubs and under canopy trees, lending a rich, dark color contrast to lighter groundcovers or spring bulbs like snowdrops. Because the foliage of Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ remains dense, it acts as a natural weed suppressor. However, avoid planting near manicured lawns, as stray runners are quick to re-establish islands of Ajuga within the turf.
For a layered effect, pair the dark purple foliage with plants that offer bright chartreuse or silver tones. Its tidy, mat-forming nature also makes it suitable for use in small accent spaces or rock gardens where a persistent, spreading element is desired without excessive height.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Ajuga reptans, commonly called bugleweed, is a dense, rapidly spreading, mat-forming ground cover which features shiny, dark green leaves. Cultivars of this species feature leaves with more interesting and varied foliage color than the species. ‘Purple Brocade’ specifically offers thick purplish leaves with a brocaded texture, topped by whorls of tiny, dark bluish-purple flowers appearing on spikes rising to about 6-8 inches total height.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
- Black Walnut
Potential Problems
Crown rot poses the most significant threat to Bugleweed, especially in the hot, humid conditions prevalent in the deep South or when planted in heavy, water-retentive soils. To mitigate this, always ensure sites offer good soil drainage and maintain sufficient space between plants to allow for necessary air circulation. If the spreading becomes problematic or the clump too dense, simply divide the Ajuga during the growing season. Be cautious about neighboring lawns or perennial beds, as aggressive stolon rooting can make removal challenging once established.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Bugleweed suitable for?
Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ is reliably hardy in USDA Zones 4 through 8.
How large does Bugleweed grow?
This low-growing perennial typically reaches a height between 0.5 to 0.75 feet tall, spreading horizontally from 1 to 2 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ need?
It performs best in locations receiving full sun to part shade; ensuring it gets at least a few hours of direct sun showcases the best purple foliage color.
When does Bugleweed bloom?
This Bugleweed produces its signature bluish purple flowers during the late spring through early summer, typically from May to June.
Conclusion
Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ offers exceptional value as a robust, low-maintenance spreading ground cover, bringing rich, purplish tones to the landscape year-round. The dense foliage of this Bugleweed effectively blankets bare earth, suppressing weeds effortlessly. Before establishing large drifts, confirm your garden falls within USDA Zones 4-8 and plan for adequate drainage to ensure success with this vibrant perennial.
Companion Planting
When selecting partners for Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’, focus on plants that share similar medium water needs and thrive in partial shade. Hostas with chartreuse or blue foliage provide excellent textural and color contrast beneath the Ajuga’s dark leaves. Ferns, such as Japanese Painted Ferns, also complement the low, spreading habit of Bugleweed beautifully while thriving in the shade it often inhabits. Consider planting spring ephemeral bulbs, like Daffodils, within the Bugleweed carpet; the Ajuga foliage will emerge later to nicely shroud the dying, yellowing bulb foliage.
Propagation Tips
Propagation for Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’ is exceptionally easy due to its creeping nature. The plant readily produces stolons (runners) that root wherever they touch the soil, forming new, independent plants. To propagate, simply sever these rooted stolons from the main mother plant during the growing season using a small trowel or sharp knife. These detached sections can immediately be transplanted to their final destination in the garden, resulting in instant ground cover coverage.
