Ajuga Chocolate Chip Groundcover - Fall Planting - October 2022

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Groundcover, groundcover, groundcover.  That's one of the things that I've tried to tell myself to focus on when I'm at the nursery.  Wisconsin Plantsman Roy Diblik (who I've posted about a bunch of times) along with my other Zone 5 garden inspiration Erin the Impatient Gardener have done a series of YouTube videos this past year that I keep revisiting for ideas.  In this one, they talk about a bunch of plants including how Roy has been 'experimenting' with Ajuga Chocolate Chip.  He's been planting it on the edge of a path as a groundcover and talks about how it outcompetes weeds.  

I've looked at some small quart containers at his nursery up in Wisconsin, but haven't pulled the trigger.  So, imagine my delight when I saw these small nursery containers of Ajuga Chocolate Chip at Lowes during their 50% off sale.  

At $2.25, I bought all that they had:  five small containers.  Here, below, is what they look like in their flat:

I'm going to tuck these into a few spots in the back and side yard.  I'm thinking at least one along the gravel path in the sideyard and a couple near the border on the northside - near the front of the bed.  

#5 on my 2022 to-do list was to 'Fall in love with Groundcover' - and these five new plants help contribute towards marking that item as completed for the season.  

These five get my ground cover 'planting count' for 2022 up to 26 total plants added in the groundcover (or ground cover) category.   That feels like a pretty good count to me.  

As for the specifics of this Ajuga, this listing from Stonehouse Nursery describes the features (including being able to walk on it! And how it can attract pollinators.  From Stonehouse:

Small, narrow, chocolate colored leaves form a low growing, weed-suppressing mat. Deepest coloration is produced in higher light levels. Can be used in place of turf in shady spots; tolerates light foot traffic. Bright violet blue flower spikes appear in spring, drawing in bees and other pollinators.

That's interesting, isn't it?  Can handle 'light foot traffic'?   

This is the second Lowes 50% off Fall Sale post, but not the last.  More tomorrow.




Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA

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