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Ajuga australis

austral bugle

Lamiaceae Australia and New Guinea

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Container Friendly

SunPart Shade – Full Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 8–11

Overview

Ajuga australis is an evergreen perennial in the mint family forming a low basal rosette 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall and spreading 8-16 inches (20-40 cm) wide, with upright flower spikes rising to 4-16 inches (10-40 cm). Leaves are mostly basal, oblong to spoon-shaped, 1-4 inches (2.5-10 cm) long, soft, hairy, and dull green, sometimes tinged purple, with toothed or shallowly lobed margins. Tubular two-lipped flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) long are carried in whorls along square stems and range from blue and mauve to purple, occasionally pink or white. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer. The plant spreads slowly by short stems rather than running stolons and self-seeds in open ground. Growth is moderate, with rosettes reaching full size in one to two seasons. Foliage can scorch in full afternoon sun in hot inland climates and may die back during severe drought, regrowing from the rootstock after rain.

Native Range

Native to Australia, widespread across all states including Tasmania, and also recorded in New Guinea. Grows in grassland, open eucalypt forest, woodland, and rocky hillsides in varied soils, from coastal areas to subalpine elevations above 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Suggested Uses

Planted as a groundcover, in rockeries, and along path edges in native and cottage gardens, spaced 8-12 inches (20-30 cm) apart. Suited to lightly shaded borders and the front of mixed plantings. Growth declines in hot, dry, fully exposed positions without irrigation.

How to Identify

Recognized by the soft hairy basal rosette and square stems carrying whorls of blue to purple two-lipped flowers 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) long. The lower flower lip is enlarged and three-lobed while the upper lip is very short, a pattern typical of Ajuga spp.. Leaf margins are toothed to shallowly lobed and the foliage is dull rather than glossy.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height4" - 1'4"

Width/Spread8" - 1'4"

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~5 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers mainly in spring and summer, September to February in its native range, with scattered bloom at other times in mild conditions. Flower whorls open in sequence up the spike over 3-5 weeks. Warm moist soils lengthen the display, while heat and drought shorten it.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Blue to purple

Foliage Description

Dull green, sometimes purple-tinged

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Sun

Requires 3-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grows in part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained soil enriched with organic matter. Water during dry spells through the first season and during prolonged drought thereafter; foliage wilts and may die back when soil dries fully but regrows from the rootstock after rain. Crowns can rot in wet, poorly drained soils over winter. Cut spent flower spikes to the base to limit self-seeding. Snails and slugs feed on young foliage in damp shaded sites. Divide clumps every 2-3 years in spring to maintain density.

Pruning

Cut flower spikes to the base after blooming to reduce self-seeding and tidy the clump. Damaged or scorched leaves can be trimmed in late winter before new growth. Lift and divide congested clumps every 2-3 years in spring.

Pruning Schedule

summerfall