Plant Ajuga!
Trying to find that perfect plant for your shade/part shade garden but not sure what to plant? Plant Ajuga! Need something to add interest to your shade/partial sun pot combination? Plant Ajuga!
Ajuga Bloom
Ajuga is an excellent choice for shade to part sun gardens and landscaping beds. There are several different types, but my personal favorites are the ‘Black Scallop’ and the ‘Catlin’s Giant’. First of all, I love their color combination. It can be challenging to find interesting composition and colors for shade beds and the Ajuga (for me) check all the boxes. Additionally, they are evergreen with bloom spikes filled with little blue blooms! If you prefer the compact black and emerald green leaves, plant the ‘Black Scallop’. The ‘Catlin’s Giant’ have green larger leaves.
Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’
How do Ajuga grow?
Both of the Ajuga fill out rather nicely. ‘Catlin’s Giant’ grows a little larger than the ‘Black Scallop’; 1 1/2′ in diameter for the Catlin’s and 1′ in diameter for the Scallop. They are both around 6″ high not including the bloom spike. I have used them both in containers as fillers to add a different texture and contrast in plantings. The ‘Black Scallop’ are a nice contrast with their black leaves and provide a sort of mat as they are more compact. For a looser fuller look, ‘Catlin’s Giant’ are the perfect choice with their deep green leaves.
They are often planted alongside Sword Fern, Foxtail Fern (my personal favorite combination), Dwarf Yaupon Holly and Boxwood. All are beautiful combinations. You really can’t go wrong with either the ‘Black Scallop’ or the ‘Catlin’s Giant’.
There are several design options depending on your style or overall goal. Plant close together as a ground cover to create a mat, plant as a border, sporadically spot them in, there are no rules. Plant a mass as the focal point or at the base of larger plants to finish off a design. If you are looking for versatility, the combinations with Ajuga are endless. Give it a try, you will be glad you did.
