Ajuga 'Black Scallop'

Ajuga 'Black Scallop': Near-Black Gloss That Carpets in a Hurry

Glossy purple-black leaves so dark they look like the bottom of a cast iron pan, crinkled and gleaming. 'Black Scallop' spreads fast and tops it off with deep blue spikes. THE GROUND COVER WITH A LEATHER JACKET.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Ajuga reptans 'Black Scallop' (cultivar name 'Binblasca')
• Common Name: Bugleweed
• Height: 10–15 cm (4–6 in)
• Spread: 30–45 cm (12–18 in)
• Flowers: Short spikes of deep blue flowers held just above the leaves
• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring (May to June)
• Foliage: Rounded, glossy, crinkled leaves in deep purple-black. Evergreen in mild winters.
• Features: Fast-spreading ground cover, rabbit resistant, takes light foot traffic

Where to Plant: Use it to cover ground fast: under shrubs, along path edges, between stepping stones, or on a gentle slope where mowing is a chore. It also spills nicely over the edge of a container, and a few hours of direct sun keep the leaves at their darkest. It isn't native, so keep it in the garden and out of natural areas.

Companion Plants: Lay this dark carpet under a moist, part-shade bed and let taller plants rise out of it. Helleborus HGC® Ice N' Roses® Dark Picotee opens white flowers edged in dark red at 30 to 45 cm from March to May. Heuchera 'Cherry Cola' adds cherry-red leaves and bells at 15 to 23 cm in June and July. Ligularia 'Othello' brings golden-orange daisies at 90 to 120 cm from July to September over purple-backed leaves. Molinia 'Moorflamme' adds a clump of fine blades at about 60 cm that turns orange-red in fall.

Plant Care: Plant about 30 cm (12 in) apart in average, well-drained soil that stays a little moist. Water regularly through the first season. It dislikes very dry shade and soggy winter soil, where crown rot can set in. It spreads by runners, so give it an edge it can't cross, or keep it away from the lawn. Trim or mow off the spent flower spikes after bloom to keep it tidy. Pull up runners that wander where you don't want them, and lift and replant pieces every few years if the centre thins out.

History: Ajuga reptans is native to Europe and nearby parts of western Asia and North Africa, and gardeners have grown it for centuries as a shade-tolerant carpet. 'Black Scallop' is one of the darkest-leaved selections and is sold around the world under its registered cultivar name 'Binblasca'.

Final Thoughts: Sun, shade or that weird strip by the walkway? It handles them all and takes a little foot traffic too. ROLL IT OUT LIKE A CARPET, BUT GOTHIC.