A glint of moonlight shimmers off the smooth steel of the katana blade. Soundless and sneaky, a black-masked shadow infiltrates the guarded walls protecting a peaceful mountain village, while the peasants sleep heavily and unaware. The air, sharp with chill of autumn fills the calm lungs of the night guard, stationed in the village's watch tower. Breathing onto his cupped hands, his warming motions are stopped suddenly as he crumbles heavily onto the floor. A few moments later, a bloodied throwing star is pulled from the guard's neck. Outside the walls, a gathering of the infiltrator's disciplined disciples gaze patiently towards the sky, awaiting the signal. The ninja grips his prized sword at the hilt and leaps from the tower in a double front flip. In mid-air, he whips the red-stained throwing star from his sash into the night sky. The gathering sees the silver star as it shoots upwards at the moon, hovers momentarily in its full, white brilliance then drops back to Earth on the other side of the wall. Without a word, the group hastens over the wall, disintegrating into the village to fulfill their destiny. The ninja master, in a shroud of mystery disappears into the void of shadows. His name stays forever in the annals of legend and intrigue. With muted whispers, the elders speak still of Ajuga reptans, Black Scallop.
Ajuga reptan's common name, Bugleweed, would have made for a much less mysterious introduction, and until the late 1990's was considered just another green ground cover. Then, as fate would have it, a natural mutation on tissue culture in the U.K. presented the world with the Black Scallop cultivar., and history was made. The foliage of this horticultural wonder is the primary reason for its use in the garden. Deep purple leaves grow darker given more sun, and it can be planted almost anywhere. In mid to late spring a flourish of blue-purple flower spikelets emerge and carpet this carpet with a carpet of color. (Too many carpets?) Ajugas are 'stoloniferous', which means they spread using above ground root extensions called 'stolons'. After their annual flowering, you could actually set up a time-elapse camera and watch their roots creep outwards in search of an acceptable place to set-up shop. If you want to keep your dark carpet compact, this is the best time to snip the extraneous growths to ensure your Bugleweed doesn't get out of control. This type of growth provides an excellent barrier to weeds, and should be placed anywhere you might be weary of weedy infiltrators. You'll want to use this as a background planting for anything white or silver for sure, but really can serve as a canvas for just about anything.
Bugleweeds are hardy from Zones 3-7, and as such should be considered indispensable in a Northern climate Garden Manscape. These are a creeping ground cover, and will reach a maximum height of about 3-6 inches. Shady spots under trees and among taller perennials will do fine, however to get the darkest foliage color make sure to place them to get some sun. This is a pretty average garden plant in terms of needs; 'medium' amounts of water (i.e. some, but not a lot...) and moist, well-draining soil are recommended. Ajuga reptans can be susceptible to something called Crown Rot, which sounds a lot like royal inbreeding. In fact, Crown Rot is a fungus that can attack plants like Bugleweed, Hosta, or Peony when they are allowed to become too hot in humid climates. The fungus will basically attack the leaf petioles and rot through them. (A leaf petiole is the small stick-like thing that connects a leaf to a plant.) Look for browning edges on leaves and if you're able to pull off pieces of your plant without any effort, that's probably a bad sign. Check near the stem of plants for tiny (1 mm) red or white bumps. Don't let this weird you out though, crown rot is not particularly common historically in the mid-west.
Use Ajuga reptans "Black Scallop" to enhance your Garden Manscape both as a backdrop and Spring feature. Forget the common name is "Bugleweed". A cultivar like "Black Scallop" is a rare and beautiful thing, much like ninja sightings. Ninjas have always worn black; not to blend in with shadows, but because it makes their weapons look awesome. Let Ajuga do that for you.
photo credit:
1] http://i1.myprofilepimp.us/user_layouts/imgs/imgs_users/2009/8/23/614207Black%20Ninja.jpg
2] http://www.provenwinners.com/sites/provenwinners.com/files/imagecache/max_width/ifa_upload/68829.jpg
3] http://www.sirwilliamsgardens.com/product_images/j/369/WaltersGardens-LO7314-Ajuga-reptansBlack-ScallopPP15815-COPF__53754_zoom.jpg
4] http://www.fonnesbeckgreenhouse.com/xcart/images/P/Ajuga%20reptans%20'Black%20Scallop'.jpg
5] http://www.kenwicknursery.co.uk/images/Ajuga%20Black%20Scallop.jpg
..."royal inbreeding"...
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