DESCRIPTION: Chocolate Chip Bugleweed's attractive tiny narrow leaves emerge brown in spring, turning dark brown in colour the rest of the year. It features subtle spikes of sky blue flowers rising above the foliage from mid to late spring. 

BOTANICAL NAME: Ajuga reptans 'Chocolate Chip'
OTHER NAMES: Carpet Bugle, Carpetweed 
AVERAGE MATURE HEIGHT: 15 cm
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 50 cm
SUN EXPOSURE: Partial Sun to Full Shade
FLOWER COLOUR: Blue
FLOWERING TIME: Late spring
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Glossy chocolate-burgundy
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive up to -39.9° Celsius )
WATER NEEDS: Average - requires moist, well-drained soil
OTHER FEATURES: Attractive Foliage, Bee Friendly, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Weed-smothering Groundcover

Landscape Attributes

Chocolate Chip Bugleweed is a dense herbaceous evergreen perennial with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. It is a good choice for attracting butterflies to your yard, but is not particularly attractive to deer who tend to leave it alone in favour of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Chocolate Chip Bugleweed is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens

Planting & Growing

Chocolate Chip Bugleweed will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity extending to 6 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 18 inches. Its foliage tends to remain low and dense right to the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.

This plant does best in partial shade to shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. Consider covering it with a thick layer of mulch in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.