Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary'
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Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary' has rich blue flower spires, over glossy dark leaves. Leaves so dark they are almost black. Hence the common name of “Black Mary”.
Weed suppressing groundcover
‘Black Mary’ makes a thick matting groundcover, suppressing weeds and carpeting the ground, as well as providing an excellent contrast to all the other green plants all year round.
Spectacular burst of blue & black
Then she gives a spectacular burst of blue, with regiments of flowers like little soldiers marching through spring-early summer.
When those stout spikes of deep, rich blue bugle flowers make a moody and elegant contrast against the dark leaves, rising 15cm. above that dense, flat mat of glossy foliage.
Then there are usually some vivid flowers again in autumn, to complement the near black leaves again.
Carpet under trees, shrubs and roses
Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary' is ideal to use under trees and shrubs to carpet out weeds and conserve soil moisture.
And she makes a great groundcover under rose bushes, where the dark leaves will complement roses of any colour.
‘Black Mary’ flowers best in Dappled Sun & Shade; Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade; or Full Shade but with good light levels. So, it really is not a fussy plant.
However, Ajuga also copes in the extremes of Full Shade or Sun (though the foliage may scorch in Full Sun in districts with severe summer heat).
Fast growing flat mat
Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary' is a fast grower, quickly making a tight-knit, weed suppressing flat mat.
So, you can plant it between paving stones, or as an eye-catching edge beside a path, where it can tolerate light foot traffic. You can even mow it with the mower or whipper snipper.
Pots, banks & slopes
Handily the dense foliage mat can also be used to help bind a steep bank or sloping garden.
And it also makes such an eye-catching feature pot all year, with the deep dark foliage spilling down over the edges.
Hardy, easy grower
Ajuga plants really will give it a go almost anywhere, whether it be in Sun or Shade, Wet or Dry.
Plus, Ajuga reptans is not fussy about soil type, tolerating a range from sand to clay.
Though it does not enjoy being waterlogged for long, so well-drained soil is best.
Nor is it fussy about soil pH, making a go of it in either acid or alkaline lime-based soils.
It is certainly hardy. As it tolerates frosts down to at least -10C; will hang on during periods of dry; and tolerates heat very well.
GROWING: Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary'
- Height with flowers: Rich blue flower spires 15cm. high. Dark, almost black foliage is flat to the ground and dense.
- Width: Makes a round carpet to a diameter of approximately 30-50cm.
But the foliage carpet will go as far as you want it to cover, then it is easily weeded out when it gets to the edge of the allocated space.
- Position: Best in Dappled Sun & Shade, Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade, or Full Shade with good light levels. However, it also copes in the extremes of Full Shade or Sun.
- Soil: Very unfussy. So, Ajuga reptans ‘Black Mary’ accepts everything from sand to clay, except it detests being waterlogged. And it is not fussy about pH, so will make a go of it in acid or alkaline (lime based) soils.
- Frost: Very frost hardy, even in hard frosts to at least -10C or lower.
- Growth: Hardy evergreen perennial groundcover.
- Beneficial for wildlife: The flowers provide nectar for honey eating native birds, bees, and are also visited by butterflies and moths.
- Beware: Please consult a medical expert before using Ajuga as an herbal treatment.
- Care & Maintenance: Extremely low maintenance ground cover. No trimming is required as it has a naturally neat, tight growth habit. You can even mow it with the mower or whipper snipper.
Though an annual feed may be applied, it is not essential, as Ajuga is not a hungry plant.
- Deer & Rabbit resistant: Both rabbits and deer tend to treat it with ignore, because it has a bitter astringent taste.
Ajuga - A plant of legend
- Myths & Legends: Ajuga has gathered a swathe of common names, with most reflecting the trumpet shape of the individual flowers in the stacked spires.
So "Bugle"," Blue Bugle", "Bugle Herb", "Carpet Bugle" are just some of the popular common names.
But Ajuga reptans is also known as "Carpenter's Herb" because it was used in traditional European herbal medicine to quench bleeding. And for some people it was considered the sovereign remedy for hangovers!
Other traditional European herbalists used it to make a tea to treat sore throats and mouth ulcers, if not sore heads from over indulgence.
- Origin: There are members of the Ajuga family all around the world, but particularly in Europe, Africa and Asia.
So, the Ajuga family members are adaptable survivors.
Most of the modern garden cultivars like 'Black Mary' are variations on European Ajuga reptans, where the native habitat is woodland.
Quarantine Restriction: None - Ajuga reptans 'Black Mary' can be shipped to all states from Di’s Delightful Plants - one of Australia’s largest on-line nursery and mail order plant services.
Bulk Discount
If you buy 3-6 plants there will be a $0.50 discount per plant"
If you buy 7+ plants there will be a $1.00 discount per plant
Plants on Special are excluded
