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TheAjuga reptansChocolate cow dung ( a - JOO - guh , REP - tanz ) is a penis of the Lamiaceae family herald from Europe .
The origin of the genus name of the plant is unclear , but the specific epithet , reptanz , think of “ creeping ” and describes the works ’ spreading , ramble ontogeny habit .
Photo Credit- Courtesy ofProven Winners
This herbaceous perennial is wide naturalized throughout the United States and may be normally refer to as :
One cultivar of this plant was developed by the Italian Valfredda greenhouse and is called ‘ Valfredda . ’
This cultivar is ordinarily sell as “ Ajuga Chocolate Chip . ”
Although it is a bit fancier than what you might see naturalized in the wild , the concern of all member of this stout plant family is the same and is simple and straightforward .
Ajuga Chocolate Chip Care
Size & Growth
Ajuga Chocolate Chip has a very stocky , nanus ontogenesis habit .
private works typically grow to be no more than 3″ or 4″ inches high with a gap of less than a animal foot tall .
The chocolate - color in leave of absence of these plant life ’ leafage are a deep shade of brown with burgundy high spot .
Plants form a dense mat of small , shiny leave-taking pretend as an good groundcover or wait adorable spilling over the sides of containers .
The foliage grows densely enough to smother pot growth .
Leaves are somewhat soft , though , and can not put up foot traffic .
Chocolate Chip Ajuga Flowering & Fragrance
Chocolate Chip Ajuga raise very small , fragrant violet - blue flowers from the middle of spring into early summer .
The showy whorls of blossoms grow on spikes , which rise above the foliage .
Blooms are very attractive to bee .
Light & Temperature
Ajuga industrial plant are winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 9 .
All member of this mob do well in lighting conditions ranging from partial shade to full sun .
A partial sun set providing between four and six hours of sunlight day by day is best for the sound foliage colors .
Watering & Feeding
During the hot spring and summer months , you may require to irrigate Bugleweed deep about once a workweek .
Keep in creative thinker this is an well naturalized plant that does best when treated as a wildflower .
Depending on your climate , you may ask to water deeply about once a calendar month in drop and winter .
Generally speaking , Bugle Herb does not involve to be feed unless the grime is extremely pitiful .
employ a unaccented root of liquid plant food .
It ’s best to fertilize in the morning and water deeply immediately after fertilizing .
Soil & Transplanting
Carpet Bugle is well planted in well - draining , humusy soil with medium wet .
When establishing plants , provide about a substructure of space between each plant unless you want ground cover very quickly .
In this case , blank space plant 6″ – 9″ inches asunder .
Chocolate Chip Ajuga Plant Grooming & Maintenance
Plants will appreciate have more quad between them and practiced air circulation if you last in a humid area .
When bloom have finished flower , cut this ground cover all the manner back to the basis .
This will serve to rejuvenate the foliage .
If you ’re using Ajuga as a lawn switch , mow it with your mower on the high setting .
This will withdraw spend flower spikes and impose a tidy , uniform appearing .
If yours is a variegated figure of Ajuga , be on the watch for non - variegated leaves .
Remove them quick if and when they come out .
How To Propagate Ajuga Reptans
This creeping plant self - propagates easily by sending out stolon or disseminate manually through division .
In the tumble , slim the plants about a calendar month before the first predicted icing .
Do this by digging up a ball and then dividing it by draw the roots apart or splitting the ball with your digger .
Amend the soil as needed and replant one - one-half . Relocate the other to its new setting .
Ajuga Reptans Pest or Disease Problems
Ajuga plant are dependent to crown rot if overcrowded or conditions are too humid .
to boot , very heavy soil will induce crown putrefaction . Otherwise , it is clean impervious to pestis and disease .
It tolerates deer and rabbits and is well - plant under and around Black Walnut trees .
The plant is also quite drouth - tolerant .
Is The Ajuga Plant Toxic Or Poisonous?
All constituent of all members of this flora syndicate are toxic if ingested .
Is This Plant Invasive?
This enthusiastically grow , easily naturalized plant is lean as invasive .
While the Chocolate Chip cultivar is not specifically listed as encroaching , it ’s important to infer it has tremendous potential drop to become so .
If you plant it in a conducive mood , take care to keep it hold back within your garden .
A setting strongly bordered by sidewalks , driveways , patios , and other types of hardscape will prevent plants from distribute with wild abandon .
Suggested Ajuga Chocolate Chip Uses
The coffee chip ajuga plant ’s apace growing groundcover is an excellent lawn replacement and cater some erosion control on side and banks .
Because of its gnome size of it , it ’s a full choice for planters in little spaces .
Its growth habit makes it a courteous nominee for hang baskets , rock gardens , and container .
