An evergreen groundcover that carpets shade where grass gives up.
Ajuga reptans spreads by runners into a low mat of glossy, often bronze-purple foliage, then sends up short spikes of blue flowers in spring. It holds its leaves through an Alabama winter, takes foot traffic better than most groundcovers, and fills the dry shade under trees that nothing else wants. Plant it where you are tired of mulching. Offered in 4-Inch Pot, shipped well-rooted from our Lineville, Alabama nursery.
Hardy in zones 3a–9b. Outside that range it can still be grown in a container and overwintered indoors.
Full colour is zones 3a–9b, where this plant is hardy in the ground. Lower 48 shown — that's where we ship. 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, via the PRISM Climate Group.
How big does it get?
Under 1 ft tall and spreads to form a mat.
How much light does it need?
Part shade to full shade.
Is it safe for pets?
Not known to be toxic to cats and dogs.
How is it shipped?
Packed to arrive healthy and shipped from our Alabama nursery to the lower 48 states.
Ships to all 48 contiguous states from our farm in Lineville, Alabama.
What it costs
Based on your order total: $12.95 under $35 · $16.95 to $75 · $21.95 to $125 · free over $125.
Ship days
Mondays and Tuesdays only — see below.
Getting it ready
1–3 business days to pot up, water back and pack.
Where we can't go
Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, P.O. boxes, and outside the United States.
A plant in a dark box is on a clock. Shipping early in the week means it reaches you before the weekend instead of sitting in a warehouse from Friday to Monday. It costs us a day or two of lead time and saves a lot of plants.
Practically: an order placed Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or over the weekend goes out the following Monday. We'd rather tell you that now than let you find it in a tracking number.
Typical ground transit from Lineville, Alabama after the ship day. Estimates, not guarantees — weather and carrier backlogs happen.
Tracking is emailed the moment your box is scanned.
A little leaf drop or travel stress is normal and usually sorts itself out within a week or two of settling in. If a plant arrives genuinely damaged, email support@wadegreens.com within 48 hours of delivery with a photo of the plant and the box, and we'll make it right.
The facts that decide whether it takes root, in the order that matters.
Sunlight
Partial Shade (2-4 hrs)
Two to four hours direct, or all-day filtered light under high branches.
Water
Moderate
Water when the top inch of soil is dry. Evenly damp, never standing wet.
Mature Size
Under 1 ft
Where it settles once established. Plan the spacing for this, not for the size it arrives at.
Foliage
Evergreen
Holds working leaves year round, replacing them gradually rather than all at once. Structure through winter.
Works As
Groundcover · Border & Bed · Foundation Planting
Traits