Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’

Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’ is a popular, low-growing groundcover plant known for its attractive, dark foliage and colorful blooms.

This cultivar of Ajuga reptans has rich, chocolate-bronze-purple leaves that bring drama and contrast to a windowbox or a garden.

In early summer, it produces spikes of small, tubular blue flowers that add vibrant color to the garden – adored by butterflies and bees.

Low-maintenance and easy to grow, Ajuga ‘Atropurpurea’ requires minimal care and provides maximum, year-round interest for your garden.

Nota bene: If it likes its environment, Ajuga can spread aggressively, so it may need some monitoring or containment in certain regions.

The Tale

Bugle is a primary nectar source of the pearl-bordered fritillary and the small pearl-bordered fritillary.

And if you REALLY now your butterflies – it is an important (secondary) nectar source for the brimstone, chequered skipper, common blue, cryptic wood white, dingy skipper, Duke of Burgundy, green-veined white, grizzled skipper, heath fritillary, holly blue, large blue, large skipper, large white, marsh fritillary, orange-tip, painted lady, small white, and wood white butterflies.

There are tales that it can be infused in a tea form and used to deal with respiratory tract troubles  – however I have read that this happens only in Austrian traditional medicine and there is only one 19th century medicine book that confirms (other books claim it aids with intestinal troubles) this so …. proceed with caution!

Other Names

Carpet Bugleweed

Dark Purple Bugleweed

Origin

Europe