took this pic today...it's doing great in spite of a recent hard freeze. When it blooms the blooms are purple/lavender. I didn't plant it...was here when we bought the place in 1996.

Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)?

Ajuga of some kind

I agree, Ajuga ... probably A. reptans as SongofJoy mentioned: http://www.floridata.com/ref/a...

That is such a beautiful picture, Lin. I hope mine looks like that this year. Thanks for posting it. Gives me ideas. I know Ajuga can take some foot traffic.

Come spring it will change to this :-)

Tee: That isn't my photo in the Floridata link but I agree, nice picture of the Ajuga ground cover beneath that bench.

Strever: Oooh, now that is very pretty! I've seen Ajuga growing down here in Florida but I rarely see blooms. I would love to get rid of all of my sod lawn and have a complete ground cover of Ajuga, wouldn't that be a sight when in full bloom?

It surely would!

So do ya'll think I should add my pic to Carpet Bugle (Ajuga reptans)....or Ajuga reptans Black Scallpop since my leaves are more purple then just green?? or perhaps wait till it blooms again?

The leaves on the one I have which was already here when I moved nearly 14 years ago look purple in the middle, I think Ajuga reptans has purple foliage but can change with light and temperature. At this time of year mine show more purple, when in flower they tend to green out.

A 'stock' photo of Black Scallop, you will find a range of colours on a google search.

http://www.vanbloem.com/index....

There's other cultivars such as Catlin's Giant..

http://www.gardensandplants.co...

Safest to stick with Ajuga reptans.

Thanks...that's what I'll do

Best match Ajuga reptans

Yes, when the temps are colder the leaves turn a beautiful purple/burgandy color. That is common among the ajugas. I would note in the DB that it is the fall/winter color too. JMHO

Would there be an easy way to limit the spread of the ajuga? Mine is moving into areas I do want for it to go.

I made an edge for the ajuga with some fairly deep wood chip mulch. The ajuga put out a few feelers over the wood chips, but didn't go further after it didn't find any hospitable soil. It spreads along the top of the soil, rooting where its stems touch the ground. If the stems touch down in a bad spot, it won't root.

BTw, the cultivar shown at the top of the thread might be one of the dark-leaved hybrids. The one I planted at my daughter's house (in Utah) had something about "Licorice" in the name as I recall. Even in spring its leaves were that dark color. It has quite deep purple flowers, too. There's a light green variegated one, too. (and probably many more since I last looked at it)

Thanks, for the tip. I will try that. I have pulled some up, but that just seems to encourage it to move faster.

I'm quite enjoying the newish patch of Ajuga I have, it set itself a short distance from the few originals which get a lot of shade. The new patch is spreading nicely and gets a little more sun (assuming we have sun!), it attracts many bees which is great for them. It does make great ground cover in the right place, if it's happy that's good, better than struggling with something which isn't so happy.

Marilyn, I wonder if you could find another ground cover plant to surround the Ajuga with, one which would beat it back or mingle with it? At the moment I don't have any suggestions, wood chip mulch sounds a good idea but complete ground cover with plants is a great way to go, preferably bee or insect friendly plants. This year I have lots of wild native Veronica growing near mine, where otherwise the ground would have been bare, I love it!

No idea what I did or didn't do but I have very little left...actually wish I had more. THere was another ground cover here when we bought the place that had pretty yellow flowers...managed to kill it too...NOT on purpose