Ajuga flowers
Ajuga flowers
If you like ajugas you will surely like this one. It bears tall royal blue flower spikes 4”-6” long and has a basal rosette of crinkly foliage that is brownish red in color and has a metallic luster. It has all the good points of the common ajuga (A. repens) but not its major fault, its rapidly spreading nature. One of its greatest virtues, in fact, is that it is well behaved and does not grow into the lawn. A. pyramidalis is an excellent ground cover.

Ajuga foliage
Ajuga foliage

Type: Herbaceous perennial.

Bloom: Royal blue spikes in spring; crinkly foliage attractive the rest of the season.

Size: 4”-6” H x 9”-12” W.

Light: Grows best in part shade but tolerates considerable sun if given adequate water.

Soil: Prefers sandy, well drained soil but tolerates clay.

Fertilizer: Apply 10:10:10 granular fertilizer after blooming the first year.

Hardiness: Zones 5-9.

Care: Make sure the plants do not dry out while getting established but do not let them sit in wet conditions either.

Pests and Diseases: Rarely suffers infection from crown rot; reduce risk by planting in area with good air circulation.

Propagation: Short stolons are produced in Fall and division may be undertaken at any time.

Outstanding Selections: A. pyramidalis ‘Pink Beauty’ is a pink flowered cultivar with 4”-5” pink flower spikes.

Plant profiles pointer

By Karen

4 thoughts on “Plant Profile: Bugleweed (Ajuga pyramidalis ‘Metallica Crispa’ )”
  1. Hi Karen, hopping over from twitter. I like this plant and I’m in zone 6b. Appreciate the feature – i’m collecting ideas for my future backyard makeover

  2. Glad you like it too. I enjoy collecting various varieties of a ajuga and I buy new ones whenever they are available. Some do really well and other do not but all of those that do well are really a huge asset to my garden.

  3. Just a query
    I planted my Ajuga this Spring and they have florished well. However i have noticed a white dust appearance occuring on the leaves. If you ruffle the leaves it does come off gradually but looks like an infection? I think they are overcrowded with the growth but wanted some tips please. Any ideas what the white floury dust is?

    Many thanks

    1. White floury dust sounds like a fungus. Ajuga may develop a fungus especially if over crowded. You can divide the ajuga and/or spray with a contact fungicide. Ultimately, you are going to have to divide the ajuga to avoid fungus but you may not want to do it now in the heat. Hope that helps. Karen

Comments are closed.