Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans 'Silver Beauty')
Ajuga reptans 'Silver Beauty' is a vigorous, silver-variegated ground cover known as Bugleweed, perfect for filling shady areas.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’, commonly known as Bugleweed, offers gardeners a dense, fast-spreading mat ideal for smothering weeds in difficult spots. This herbaceous perennial is celebrated for its outstanding foliage, which features gray-green leaves dramatically edged with creamy white variegation, making Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ a standout even outside of bloom time. The plant excels as a robust ground cover, carpeting areas with its low-growing structure before sending up spikes of charming purple-blue flowers in late spring. Plant this Bugleweed variety where you need reliable, low-maintenance coverage that retains visual interest throughout the growing season.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Lamiaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.25-1 ft
- Spread: 1-2 ft
- Bloom Time: May to June
- Bloom Description: Purple-blue
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
Plant Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ during the cooler times of the year for best establishment, ensuring you provide an average, well-drained soil. While this Bugleweed prefers moist, humusy conditions, it adapts well, although full shade might diminish the vibrancy of the ‘Silver Beauty’ variegation. Aim for at least 3-4 hours of direct sun per day in part-sun locations to maximize the contrast in the foliage. Space plants about 6 to 9 inches apart if you desire rapid coverage across the landscape.
Watering should be consistent, maintaining medium moisture levels, especially during hot, dry spells. Good air circulation is crucial, particularly in humid climates, to mitigate the risk of crown rot. Maintenance is generally light; divide crowded clumps to keep the planting vigorous, and be vigilant about removing any solid green (non-variegated) leaves that may appear, ensuring the ‘Silver Beauty’ characteristics remain dominant.
For larger plantings, you can employ a high mower setting immediately after flowering to neatly remove spent flower spikes and tidy the appearance of the low-growing carpet. Cutting plants back hard to the ground after flowering can also rejuvenate the foliage for the remainder of the season.
Landscape Uses
The primary role of Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ is as a superb ground cover, making it an excellent solution for filling large, shaded expanses where grass struggles. Its creeping nature, facilitated by stolons, creates a dense mat that effectively chokes out unwanted weeds, reducing invasive competition in beds. Plant Bugleweed on banks or slopes where its spreading habit stabilizes the soil, or use it under the high canopy of established trees and shrubs. This low-growing perennial also blends beautifully with spring-flowering bulbs, such as snowdrops, emerging through its foliage carpet. Exercise caution when planting near lawns, as runaway Bugleweed can easily colonize turf areas if not properly contained.
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. Whorls of tiny, blue-violet flowers appear in mid to late spring on spikes rising above the foliage to 10”. Cultivars of this species feature leaves with more interesting and varied foliage color. When in full flower, large clumps of bugleweed can produce a striking display. Dense foliage will choke out weeds. Not particularly tolerant of foot traffic.‘Silver Beauty’ has gray-green leaves with irregular creamy white margins. Purple-blue flowers bloom in spring rising above the foliage carpet to 10” tall.
Tolerances
- Rabbit
- Deer
- Black Walnut
Potential Problems
Crown rot poses a threat, particularly when this Bugleweed is situated in heavy, wet soils or in the high humidity common in the deep South. To prevent this fungal issue, ensure excellent drainage is established before planting and provide adequate spacing for good air movement around the crowns. Regularly divide any clumps that become overcrowded, which also helps maintain plant health. Another crucial management concern is containing its spread; avoid planting Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ too close to perennial borders or lawns, as its creeping habit makes removal from turf or tight spaces quite difficult.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Bugleweed suitable for?
Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ is resilient across USDA Zones 4 through 9.
How large does Bugleweed grow?
This ground cover typically reaches a mature height between 0.25 and 1 foot tall, spreading horizontally from 1 to 2 feet wide via creeping stolons.
What sun exposure does Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ need?
It thrives in a range spanning full sun to part shade, though the best foliage color for the ‘Silver Beauty’ cultivar is achieved with at least a few hours of direct morning sun daily.
When does Bugleweed bloom?
This variety showcases its purple-blue flowers across spikes from May through June.
Conclusion
Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ is an invaluable asset for gardeners seeking a low-growing, vigorously spreading plant with exceptional bicolored foliage. The reliable performance of this Bugleweed ensures dense coverage and weed suppression under various light conditions. Check your local USDA Hardiness Zone to confirm suitability before planting this spring to establish your attractive new mat of silver and green.
Companion Planting
When selecting neighbors for Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’, focus on plants that share its preference for moist soil and appreciate similar sun/shade conditions. Hostas are excellent companions, as they thrive in shade and offer contrasting leaf shapes and textures alongside the low carpet of Bugleweed. Astilbe offers feathery blooms that complement the short flower spikes of the Ajuga in late spring and early summer. For woodland settings, consider pairing it with ferns, which appreciate the consistent moisture and dappled light requirements shared by this spreading perennial.
Propagation Tips
Propagating Ajuga reptans ‘Silver Beauty’ is exceptionally simple due to its natural growth habit, making division the easiest method. Since this Bugleweed spreads readily via above-ground runners called stolons, you can effectively create new plants at any time during the growing season when the soil is workable. To divide, simply sever the stolons connecting established clumps and dig up sections containing several healthy roots and rosettes. Immediately replant these divisions in their new locations, spacing them appropriately for future spread; ensure consistent watering until the new plants are well-established in their environment.
