This plant performs best in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist soil.
Warning
Bugleweed has been reported as aninvasive plantin some states.
Bugleweed Care
Bugleweed works particularly well on banks or slopes or when planted around trees and shrubs.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Choose a spot in partial shade, and space plants about one foot apart.
Light
Bugleweed thrives in full sun to part shade locations.
Foliage color is most vibrant when the plant receives at least three to four hours of sunlight daily.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Soil
Bugleweed prefers medium moisture, well-drained soils with a good amount oforganic matter.
It will tolerate moderately dry soil.
Once established, plants can tolerate some dryness, but one inch of water per week should be sufficient.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Water whenever the top one to two inches of soil becomes dry.
Fertilizer
Feeding is rarely necessary unless the plant is growing in poor soil.
When it is needed, apply an all-purpose granular fertilizer.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Or, use a water-soluble fertilizer at a rate of one tablespoon per one gallon of water.
Morning feeding is best, and verify to rinse off any fertilizer granules from the leaves.
Rigorously prune runners twice a year.
The Spruce / K. Dave
Be sure to remove any runners escaping the desired planting area.
In addition, cut off the flower spikes in late summer after the flowers have faded.
To shear back a large area of bugleweed, use a lawnmower set to a high blade height.
‘Catlin’s Giant’The Spruce / Grant Webster
Propagating Bugleweed
Bugleweed is one of the easiest plants to propagate by division.
This is best done in spring or fall when there is no chance of frost.
Bugleweed spreads by underground runners that form new plants around the parent plant.
Start seeds indoors in the early spring.
When choosing a pot, verify you opt for a container with drainage.
Any bang out of pot should be fine.
In its own pot, you may need to repot bugleweed every couple of years.
Choose a pot that is only one or two inches wider in diameter.
If bugleweed outgrows in an arrangement, you’re free to trim it back or remove it entirely.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Bugleweed is mostly free of pests and diseases.
This is a problem in humid areas or when the plant is growing in heavy soils.
you might prevent crown rot by planting in well-drained soil.
How to Get Bugleweed to Bloom
Bloom Months
Bugleweed blooms in mid to late-spring.
What Do Bugleweed Flowers Look Like?
Bugleweed produces shiny, dark green leaves and beautiful flower spikes with blue, violet, orpurple flowers.
It can reach eight to ten inches tall, although the flower spikes on some cultivars are shorter.
Deadheading Bugleweed Flowers
Cut back or mow over bugleweed after it blooms to keep the appearance neater.
Common Problems With Bugleweed
Be on the lookout for these common growing problems.
Plant in well-draining soil, and don’t let the soil get too wet, especially in humid weather.
Dropping Leaves
Bugleweed dropping leaves can occur from too little sunlight.
Ensure your plant is planted somewhere that it can get full sun to partial shade.
You’ll find plenty of companion woodland plants for bugleweed that grow well in partial or full shade.
For example, pair withcoral bells,daffodils,violas,forget-me-nots,astilbe, andhardy geraniums.
For extra greenery, planthostasand ferns.
Although the blue flowers are prominent, they don’t have any fragrance.
It tastes bitter to most animals, except the muskrat, which likes to nibble on the roots.
University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
Aggressive Plants in the Landscape.
Iowa State University Extension.
Carpet bugle: Ajuga reptans.
Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States.
