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Dark purple bugle
The Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea', commonly known as the dark purple bugle, is a low-growing, evergreen perennial that adds a touch of majesty to any garden with its lush, purple foliage and striking blue flowers. Thriving in a variety of conditions and requiring minimal maintenance, it is a favored choice for ground cover, borders, and edging.
This species boasts a creeping growth habit, which allows it to spread effectively, covering the ground with a blanket of bronze and purple throughout the year.
We would like to provide some tips on how to plant and care for a Strong ground covers. By following these tips, you can be sure to enjoy your Strong ground covers for a long time.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' flourishes in locations that provide sun to partial shade. This evergreen groundcover adapts to a variety of soil conditions, though it prefers well-drained environments. Its creeping growth habit makes it an excellent choice for border accents or group plantings where its bronze and purple foliage, complemented by vibrant blue flowers, can truly stand out. To maximize its ornamental appeal, ensure the soil remains moist, as the plant is not drought-resistant. A setting that offers some shelter from the harshest midday sun will help preserve the vibrancy of its foliage and flowers.
When planting Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea', select a location that receives sun to partial shade and has well-drained soil, accommodating the plant's adaptability to various soil types. This evergreen thrives when its roots are submerged, meaning thorough watering post-planting is key to establish a robust root system. The spacing between plants should allow for their creeping growth habit, ensuring they spread without competition. Planting can be done at any time barring frost periods, with the pot-grown roots easily adapting to their new environment. Regular watering is essential, especially during dry spells, to maintain the plant's vibrant foliage and fragrant blue blooms.
Pruning of Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' is typically unnecessary. This evergreen ground cover maintains a low, dense mat of foliage, which contributes to its carefree maintenance. Should any foliage become damaged or unsightly, a simple trim can help maintain its aesthetic appeal. It's advisable to perform light grooming rather than heavy cutting to keep the plant's natural creeping growth habit intact and encourage its vibrant bronze and purple leaves to flourish seasonally without interruption.
Ensuring adequate moisture is pivotal for the thriving of Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea', particularly given its creeping growth habit and evergreen foliage. The plant's water requirements suggest that the soil should be kept consistently moist, favoring a watering technique that involves submerging the pot in water, allowing the substrate to absorb moisture thoroughly. This method promotes even hydration, critical for the plant's health and lustrous, bronze-purple foliage. It is particularly important during the active growing season, from spring through summer, to monitor the soil moisture level and water accordingly to maintain optimal conditions.
To maintain the striking foliage and vibrant blooms of Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea', a balanced approach to fertilization is beneficial. In early spring, as the growing season commences, apply a general-purpose fertilizer to encourage robust foliage and prepare the plant for its flowering period. A second application may be made after the initial flush of flowers to support continued growth and vigor throughout the season.
Given the creeping, widespread growth habit of this species, ensure that fertilizer is evenly distributed across the area where the plant is spreading to promote uniform nourishment. It is important to follow the recommended dosage on the fertilizer packaging to prevent over-fertilization, which can be detrimental to the plant's health and the environment. Always water the plant thoroughly after applying fertilizer to help dissolve the nutrients and facilitate their uptake by the roots.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' thrives in a range of soil conditions and can adapt to various light exposures, making it a versatile choice for gardeners. Its robust root system, housed in a pot, allows for easy division and propagation to spread its vibrant beauty. This variety, with its rich, dark purple foliage, creates a stunning contrast against brighter plants in the landscape, offering a unique aesthetic appeal throughout the growing season.
To propagate Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' and maintain its health, division is recommended. Preferably in the spring or autumn, carefully lift the plant from the soil, ensuring you have a good clump of the root system. Once removed, separate the plant into smaller sections, each with a portion of the roots. Replant these divisions promptly into well-drained soil at the same depth they were growing previously. This process rejuvenates the plant, stimulates robust growth, and allows gardeners to expand their display of this ground cover with its striking bronze-purple foliage and blue flowers.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' typically achieves a height ranging from 10 to 50 centimeters at maturity.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' will reach a maximum spread of 50 centimeters to 1 meter in width.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' thrives in well-drained soil of various types. Ensuring proper drainage is essential for the optimal growth and health of this plant.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' flourishes in both sunny and partially shaded locations. It can thrive in areas where it receives direct sunlight or in spots where the sunlight is filtered by other plants or structures. This adaptable plant can be successfully grown in a variety of light conditions.
The blooms of Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' display a captivating blue colour, adding a delightful touch to this plant's appearance.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' is indeed winter hardy. With a tolerance for temperatures ranging from -23.3°C to -20.1°C, this plant is categorized within USDA hardiness zone 6a. Therefore, it is well-suited to withstand colder conditions and can thrive in the typical winter climate of many regions.
Indeed, Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' is evergreen. This means that the plant retains its leaves throughout the year, providing a consistent green appearance in your garden or landscape.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' achieves its ultimate height within a period of two to five years, indicating a moderate yet steady growth rate.
If we are proud of anything at Heijnen Plants, it is our plant packaging. We have developed our own unique way of packaging our 9x9 cm potted plants. After years of continued development and research, we managed to create packaging that allows plants to be delivered to your home undamaged and quickly through a parcel service. This makes us unique!
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If you have ordered large-sized plants or trees, we deliver them on sealed pallets and place them around your house or driveway. The pallets are sturdy and provide optimal protection for large-sized plants.
We deliver small or medium-sized plants in boxes. The size of the box depends on the size of the plant. We always make sure that the plant has enough space but still stands firmly in the box, so it cannot be damaged during transport.
Ajuga reptans 'Atropurpurea' is an exceptional ground cover plant, boasting rich, purple foliage and vibrant blue blooms. It's perfect for adding a splash of color to shaded areas, and its robust growth habit ensures a lush carpet that effortlessly transforms any garden space into a tapestry of beauty.
