Landscape & Gardening

What’s Blooming Now

Ajuga reptans ‘Valfredda’ Chocolate Chip
Ajuga reptans ‘Valfredda’ Chocolate Chip

The Chocolate Chip Ajuga is quite the show right now. It’s planted in both my front and back gardens in and around my stepping stones where there is shade. Eventually the clumps will spread by stolons and weave a tight mat of foliage. Depending on the amount of sunlight, the leaves are a mix of rich chocolate-purple and green, but the color will deepen in more sun. This ground cover was planted less than a year ago and may take at least another year to lose its clump-like look and spread into an uninterrupted blanket of foliage. To see a larger expanse of this plant, click on the link below.

(above) As you can see, the plants are still in their clump phase. There are a few areas where the newly planted Ajuga did not survive, because it didn’t have time to become established before our brutal summer. I will replant those areas, and hopefully, this summer won’t be as bad as the last two.
(above) As you can see, the plants are still in their clump phase. There are a few areas where the newly planted Ajuga did not survive, because it didn’t have time to become established before our brutal summer. I will replant those areas, and hopefully, this summer won’t be as bad as the last two.

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