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Ajuga reptans 'Pink Elf' makes a thick matting groundcover, that suppresses weeds and carpets the ground so very prettily. So, when the stout spikes of soft pink bugle flowers appear in spring-early summer, it makes a very fetching mass of colour indeed.
Then there are generally some bonus flower repeats again in autumn.
But there is always the flat mat of glossy, deep green foliage.
True baby pink
The true, baby-pink flower spikes rise 15cm. above the foliage carpet,
So Ajuga 'Pink Elf is ideal to use as a groundcover amongst trees and shrubs to carpet out weeds.
Groundcover under trees, shrubs & roses
And it makes a great ground-mat under rose bushes, where the pink flowers can complement rose blooms, while the foliage protects the soil from moisture evaporation and weeds.
Plus, the glossy green foliage mat provides a wonderful visual foil for any rose blooms, no matter what their colour.
Hardy mat for shade
Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Elf’ flowers well in a variety of garden positions.
Including Dappled Sun & Shade; Morning Sun with Afternoon Shade; or Full Shade but with good light levels.
However, Ajuga also copes in the extremes of Full Shade or Sun (though the foliage may scorch in full sun in districts with hot summer).
Neglect resistant
Ajuga 'Pink Elf' is neglect resistant and a fast grower, quickly making its’ tight knit, weed suppressing mat.
So, you can plant Ajuga between paving stones, or as an eye-catching edge beside a path, where it can even tolerate light foot traffic.
Handily the dense foliage mat will also help bind a steep bank or sloping garden.
And it also makes eye-catching colour in a feature pot where it can spill down over the edges.
Easy & unfussy
Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Elf’ is a hardy and tough plant, so it really will give it a go almost anywhere, whether it be in Sun or Shade, Wet or Dry.
And it is not fussy about soil type either, tolerating most soils from sand to clay.
Though it does not enjoy being waterlogged for long, so good soil drainage is important.
Nor is it fussy about soil pH, making a go of it in either acid or alkaline, lime-based soils.
And Ajuga reptans ‘Pink Elf’ is certainly hardy, as it tolerates hard frosts to at least -10C; will hang on during periods of dry; and tolerates heat very well.
GROWING: Ajuga reptans 'Pink Elf'
- Height with flowers: Pink flower spires 15cm. high. 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, and 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 ‘Pink Elf’ 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 a 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.
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 more popular common names.
But it 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 even considered the sovereign remedy for hangovers!
Other traditional European herbalists made teas to treat sore throats and mouth ulcers, if not sore heads from over indulgence and merrymaking.
- 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 'Pink Elf' are variations on European Ajugas, where their native habitat is in woodland.
Quarantine Restriction: None - Ajuga reptans 'Pink Elf' 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
