Ajuga Feathered Friends™ Parrot Paradise (Carpet Bugle)
Ajuga Feathered Friends™ 'Parrot Paradise' (Carpet Bugle) is a vigorous evergreen perennial prized for its stunning tri-color leaves, which quickly form a dense carpet of attractive rosettes. In spring, the foliage of gold, orange, and red leaves is topped with pretty cobalt-blue flower spikes. Carpet Bugle is valued as a wonderful spreader making a colorful groundcover that remains attractive most of the year. Thriving in shady areas where grass has difficulty growing, Ajuga plants are great for woodland gardens. Low-maintenance and highly versatile, their great foliage colors make them perfect for planting under trees or shrubs, or on banks or slopes. While a dense mat will help suppress weeds, avoid planting near perennial beds or lawns where its spreading nature could pose removal problems.
- Grows up to 6 in. tall (15 cm) and 24 in. wide (60 cm).
- A part shade to full shade lover, it thrives in average, medium, well-drained soils and tolerates almost any soils provided they are moist and humusy. Will tolerate full sun in cooler areas if constant moisture is provided.
- Provide good air circulation to avoid crown root problems.
- A remarkably low-maintenance plant, this excellent performer is highly versatile and can be used in many situations: groundcovers, on banks or slopes, under trees or shrubs.
- Propagate by division, separating rooted stems.
- Generally pest free. Keep an eye out for powdery mildews. This plant is rabbit and deer resistant.
- May be mowed after flowering in order to get rid of the spent flower spikes and clean up the planting.
- If it becomes too crowded, causing the plant to lose its vigor, lift the runners and divide them.
Requirements
Hardiness | 4 – 9 |
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Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
Climate Zones | 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, A2, A3 |
Plant Type | Perennials |
Plant Family | Ajuga – Carpet Bugles |
Exposure | Partial Sun, Shade |
Season of Interest | Spring (Early,Mid,Late) |
Height | 4" – 6" (10cm – 15cm) |
Spread | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
Spacing | 24″ (60cm) |
Water Needs | Average |
Maintenance | Low |
Soil Type | Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand |
Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
Characteristics | Showy, Evergreen |
Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
Garden Uses | Banks and Slopes, Ground Covers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs |
Garden Styles | Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow |