We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Bugleweed?

By Terrie Brockmann
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,927
Share

Bugleweed, sometimes called Bugle, is one name for plants in the Ajuga genus of the Labiatae, or mint family, and contains about 40 species. These perennial, ground-hugging plants form a dense mat via runners, and growers often use them as ground covers in gardens and lawns. Landscapers may use this plant for erosion control, but it spreads easily and may become invasive. It is native to parts of Europe and Asia, and thrives in warm to cooler climates. Generally, the plant thrives in a shady, moist habitats.

The leaves in all bugleweed species mostly are the same spatula or spoon shape, and generally grow in basal rosettes. The species determines if the leaf is smooth, lobed, or slightly toothed. The leaves often are green, but depending upon the cultivar or species, they may be silver, burgundy, bronze, or other reddish colors. Some leaves are variegated or splashed with color, including some with yellow blotches.

Bugleweed flowers rise from the plant's stolon, a shoot from the plant's central rosette, or rhizome, a thick underground stem, dependent upon the species. The flowers grow in whorls on square stems, typical of the mint family. The flower spike may be 3 to 6 inches (about 7 to 15 cm) tall, sporting white, blue, or purple blooms. Generally, they have two-lipped tubular flowers, with the upper lip being very small and the lower lip large and divided into four petal-like segments.

Ajuga pyramidalis, or pyramid bugleweed, is a clump-forming plant that reproduces with rhizomes without stolons. The dark green leaves are basal rosettes that have obovate, or oval and narrower at base, leaves that are somewhat hairy and slightly toothed at the edges. The flowers vary in color from pink to pale violet to deep blue, and usually have purple, fringed bracts. Including the bloom stalk, the plant's overall height is 6 to 10 inches (15 to 25 cm) and the width is 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm). The cultivar "Metallic Crispa" has crinkled green and purple leaves.

Generally, gardeners plant the bugleweed as borders or edging plants, in rock gardens, and in outdoor pots, as well as using them for ground covers. They usually thrive in full sun in cool climates and in partially shaded areas in hotter climates. Even in natural areas, the plants propagate through stolons or rhizomes, and growers divide the rooted plantlets of the mother plant. In the United States, they are hardy from USDA zones three through nine.

One type of bugleweed — A. reptans — has some traditional medicinal uses, but it is easily confused with Lycopus virginicus, another bugleweed. There are contradictory beliefs as to the value of A. reptans as an effective herbal medicine. Some people call it "carpenter's bugle," probably because an anointment from the plant may help staunch bleeding. Traditionally, herbalists used it to treat wounds because the plant is a potent astringent. Others recommend it for heart palpitations and as a mild herbal sedative for curbing persistent coughs. Although the plant is aromatic, it is very bitter to the taste.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-bugleweed.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.