In 2021, our staff spotted one of our patches of Ajuga ‘Black Scallop’, in which part of the clump had mutated to a form which had foliage that was nearly 2-3 times as large as the original. We moved the sport nearby and watched it over the next three years until we were sure the sport was truly unique, garden worthy and genetically stable. Once these were all confirmed, we christened it, Ajuga ‘XXL’, and it debuts this year in our 2025 Plant Delights catalog. What we love about it, and its parent, is that it has proven to be completely sterile in the garden, since we tired years earlier over pulling far too many ajuga seedlings. It has also proven as tough as its parent in resisting many of the diseases that wipe out many ajugas. Also, like it’s parent, it has a tight growth habit, so doesn’t easily get out of bounds.
I know this is difficult to answer with no growing conditions but I can grow the common ajuga that will grow regardless but absolutely no success with the others I have attempted. I garden in partial shade with a high canopy of mature oaks. Is there maybe a particular problem I could have since failing with others? I would love to try this one but have killed so many😪
I’d venture to say that 80% of the ajuga cultivars we’ve trialed will not grow in the heat and humidity of the Southeast US. This is exactly while we trial them before they reach our catalog. Ajuga is typically a plant from colder regions, which is why it struggles here. We have had great luck with selections and hybrids of the Italian Ajuga tenorii.
Thanks..helps explain my difficulty. I will stick to your catalog selections. Appreciate the work you do to trial all these wonderful plants.
This sounds great, but one reason I’ve been considering ajuga for a ground cover is that the flowers are reported to be attractive to bees and hummingbirds — but all you say about the flowers of Steroidal Ajuga is that they are sterile. So I have several questions:
1. Do these plants actually bloom? And if so —
2. Is their bloom season as long as that of other varieties?
3. What color are the flowers?
4. Do they attract bees and/or hummingbirds?
5. As well as other varieties do?
Thank you for your help!
Yes, the Ajuga ‘XXX’ flowers, but does not set seed. The flowers are lavender. We mostly see bees on the ajuga flowers, but haven’t taken time to observe other feeders. All varieties of ajuga have similar flowers that all attract bees. We generally see native bumblebees, and not so much honeybees.