Looking at Plants

Ajuga reptans ‘Mahogany’

COMMON NAMES

Mahogany Bugleweed

Ajuga (ah-JYOO-guh) – origin obscure, but possibly corruption of a Latin word; eventually coming to mean ‘bugle’ 

reptans (rep-TANZ) – creeping

‘Mahogany’ – cultivar name, in reference to leaf color

GROUP 

Dicot

FAMILY 

Lamiaceae

ORIGIN

Europe

DESCRIPTION

Mahogany Bugleweed is an herbaceous perennial groundcover that averages 3 to 6 inches in height with a 12 to 24 inch length. It has a mat-forming habit spreading by stolons. It has a fast growth rate.

Leaves are evergreen to semi-evergreen in northern zones, simple with entire to slightly crenate margins, about 1 to 1 ½ inches across and 2 inches long, mostly obovate in shape, and a combination of dark green, dark burgundy and black in color.

The flowers are bluish-purple and are borne on 5 to 6 inch spikes. Primary bloom period is spring to early summer.

HARDINESS

It is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 10.

LIGHT

Full sun; part shade; it tolerates full shade; the best color comes with at least 3 to 4 hours of sun

SALT

Poor Salt Spray Tolerance – it’s risky for this plant to be put in a coastal area as it has minimal tolerance. It would require multiple layers of protection such as in a greenhouse, indoors, or in a small enclosed area such as a courtyard beyond the dunes.

SOIL

It prefers a moist, rich soil but it will grow on a wide range of well-drained soils in the pH range of 6.5 to 7.5. It doesn’t like overly wet soils.

WATERING

It has moderate drought tolerance once established, so some water is needed for survival in dry spells. As with most plants, though, ample irrigation in droughts keeps it healthier and looking better.

PROPAGATION

Division of clumps at most any time; root cuttings in late spring

PRUNING

Only pruning necessary is to control within its boundaries and removal of spent flower spikes.

FERTILIZING

It has no special fertilizer needs. Unless a soil test suggests otherwise, a slow-release balanced analysis fertilizer applied per the product label will work.

PESTS

Nematodes on some sandier soils

DISEASES

Crown Rot on overly wet soils, Southern Blight

DEER

Resistant

There are very few totally “deer-proof” plants. There are also, relatively speaking, few plants that are considered a preferred food supply of deer. Most plants fall in the big gap between. One of the biggest variables is the available preferred food supply in a given area. If their preferred food is scarce, they will munch on most anything.

OTHER

Good butterfly and hummingbird plant

Rabbits seem to leave it alone

It is tolerant of Black Walnut proximity.

USES

Edging, groundcover, mass planting, rock gardens, borders

TOXICITY

A search of ASPCA, Texas A&M University, Canadian Poisonous Plants Information System, University of Wisconsin, Poisonous Houseplants and Ornamentals - Merck Vet Manual, Purdue University - Guide to Toxic Plants in Forages, Poisonous Plants of the Southeastern United States - Alabama Cooperative Extension, Florida Poison Control, and The Cat Fanciers Association did not show this plant on any of their lists.

California Poison Control lists Ajuga reptans as non-toxic.

University of California lists Ajuga reptans as safe.

United States Department of Agriculture lists Ajuga reptans as non-toxic.

There are numerous other websites that say all parts are poisonous, but they mostly say it is “reported” so without citing any authority.