Best type of Ajuga

11 years ago

Hey y'all,

I am looking for something for a problem spot in my yard. It's a hill that has erosion problems and grass will not grow. I'm looking for something that will be low maintenance and not terribly invasive and will also provide interest year round. I was thinking about ajuga? If so, which one? I would like it to spread pretty quickly as there is nothing on the bank currently. My husband and I weeded out the area and cut back some trees to provide dappled shade. I don't want to spend too much money as our landscape guys like to trample on the hill on occasion.

We live in North Carolina. Also, the slope is primarily a sandy type of soil and water runs off so we will need to amend it somewhat.

P.S. A lot of the trees and weeds are now gone. Most of the trees are sweet gum and just awful so my husband cut some down and thinned out others. There are a few day lilies in there somewhere but were doing poorly because of the overgrown trees.

Thanks for all your help!

I am also open to any suggestions other than ajuga as well. :)

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Comments (5)

laceyvail 6A, WV
11 years ago
I'd try Geranium macrorrhizum rather than ajuga. Or ajuga with mostly the geranium. Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' is very nice.
rosiewells7b
Original Author
11 years ago
What other suggestions do you have? I am not sure that the Geranium will provide year-round interest?
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
Ajuga is a great suggestion for that area. The larger, green leafed ones grow faster and provide better coverage than the fancy leafed varieties. I'd look at 'Caitlin's Giant'.

All ajuga will look its best and bloom heaviest if provided with some sunlight and adequate soil moisture.
rosiewells7b thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
oktobersky
10 years ago
I have ajuga chocolate chip and it is very nice. It has spread nicely but not gone crazy.
laceyvail 6A, WV
10 years ago
Geranium macrorrhizum is semi evergreen in zone 6A and will be fully evergreen in your zone. All the ajuga I've seen are subject to crown rots that take out sections of the planting, not too much of a problem for small areas, but not attractive in a large planting. Could very likely be a problem for you too, which is why I suggested a mix of the two. There are a great many other possibilities as well; Epimediums (many species and cultivars, some clumping, some spreading), hostas (if deer are not a problem), Brunnera, Pulmonaria, Solomon's seal (though not a good choice for the whole area if people are going to trample it), Lamium, and on and on.