Perfect for a shady spot, Lamium ‘White Nancy’ and ajuga ‘Purple Brocade’ will do well in both dry or moist conditions. Both have pretty flowers in late spring to early summer and outstanding foliage for season-long interest. The purple foliage of the bugleweed is set off by the silvery white of ‘White Nancy’s leaves and the leaves of the ‘White Nancy’, in turn, provide a good background for the blue flowers of Ajuga ‘Purple Brocade’. This combination makes an outstanding groundcover even on slopes and banks, and under trees and shrubs. For a fabulous effect plant over spring bulbs.
Lamium ‘White Nancy’
This mat forming perennial spreads by stems that root where they touch the soil and quickly covers an area. The oval leaves are silvery white with narrow green edges and last through the winter. The small snow white hooded flowers are borne in clusters and echo the white of the leaves. Plants may become straggly in zones 7 and above during the hottest part of the summer but can be rejuvenated by cutting them back. Deer resistant.
Bloom Time:
- Late spring-early summer
Size:
- 6-8” H x 24-26” W
Hardiness:
- Zones 3-8
Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans ‘Purple Brocade’)
Ajuga reptans of any kind is a stoloniferous spreader than can become a pest but ‘Purple Brocade’ is the one of the slowest spreaders. Even when it grows where it is not wanted it can be controlled by a quick mowing on a high setting. The crinkly purple leaves show their best color with more sun but are attractive even when shades of green. The masses of dark bluish purple flowers growing on spikes in late spring to early summer can be breath-taking. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Bloom Time:
- Late spring to early summer
Size:
- 6-8” H x 12-24” W
Hardiness:
- Zones 4-8.
