• Lovely blue flowers through spring
• Intense dark green glossy leaf coverage
• RHS-backed pollinating variety

You may be more familiar with this rather unusual but very effective plant under the name of bugle or wild bugle. Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop is a hardy, all-weather evergreen that can spread quickly and covers a carpet of texture, particularly around trees and under shrubs. In contrast to brighter and free-flowering spring plants, Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop carries a much deeper shade with a pretty subtle flower once the winter weather disappears and warm sunshine breaks through.

This perennial boasts colours of misty green, almost black in places, hence the name it has been given. The wide-spreading leaves, which can reach around 35inches (1m) in width and just over 10inches (25cm) in height, make a rich covering with a look that is both glossy and mysterious in different conditions.

Growers love the super-hardy nature of Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop. It can take and establish in clay, loam, chalk and sandy soil structures and acid, alkaline and neutral pH conditions. It also doesn’t matter what aspect it is facing and whether it’s exposed or sheltered. A fully sunny location helps to promote quicker growth and superior spring flowering, but it will also grace your garden and outdoor areas under partly shaded locations.

Ideally, Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop will be planted in a moist area though so that the fast-spreading foliage gets the important water retention that it needs.
The dark leaves often provide a welcome break from bright summer flowers and can help to change the mood and flow around a garden in a positive way.

The leaves differ from season to season as this creeping perennial twists and turns from place to place, while keeping a neat appearance. Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop does not require heavy pruning and is easy to care for. Many gardeners choose to plant it on sloped areas and banks as a way to hold the soil firmly, or around patio edging as a classy border.

Ajuga Reptans Black Scallop changes in springtime, producing deep blue petals atop short spiked flowers. This is a fantastic sight in April, May and early June and the RHS has recognised this species for being particularly attractive for pollinator wildlife.

How you will receive your plants:

Selected by our team of experts and sent from our nursery, you will receive your plant in a pot, ready to plant out.

Can’t plant straight away?

Place the pot in a sheltered spot outdoors and water regularly to keep the soil moist.

Planting in the ground:

Dig a hole slightly wider than the rootball of the plant. Place the plant in the hole so that it sits at the same level in the ground as it did in the pot. When backfilling, mix in a soil improver such as well-rotted farmyard manure. Firm the soil around the plant and water well.

Planting in containers:

Choose a pot with good drainage holes. Place stones or crocks (bits of broken pottery) at the bottom of the pot to stop the drainage holes clogging up. Use a good quality compost. Feed and water container-grown plants regularly.

When to plant and what to expect at different times of the year

You can plant hardy shrubs, trees and perennials at any time of the year avoiding the two extremes of heat and cold. During the summer months when it is hot and dry the need for watering becomes crucial to aid successful establishment and in the winter when the soil is frozen the plants will not be in active growth either above or below ground and risk getting cold damage. The same is true on the stage or growth you can expect your plants to be delivered in and this will be directly related to the time of year and the season.

When ordering through the year, here’s a summary of what to expect when receiving your plants:

Spring Months: Plants supplied in spring will be starting to show signs of active growth above and below ground.

Summer Months: Plants supplied in the late summer will be more advanced in size and flower stage

Autumn Months: In the autumn plants will be changing colour, showing signs of leaf colour breakdown and be preparing to shut down for winter.

Winter Months: Plants ordered and supplied during the winter months will be dormant and therefore may not be showing growth above the soil level or consist of bare branches with no leaves or bare roots with no soil.

These are all perfectly normal and natural for these types of plants growing in the northern hemisphere. All will still have a very healthy root system that can be planted when the weather is favourable by keeping the new soil level equal to the pot level and therefore not covering the crown of the plant at all. Planting during the autumn and winter months will allow for early establishment in the season and a bigger and better display throughout the main growing season. For more information on our plant sizes click here.