Austral Bugle

Austral Bugle (Ajuga australis) is the Australian native answer to the imported ajugas usually sold as groundcover. It forms low rosettes of soft green leaves about 25cm high and 40cm across, then sends up short spikes of blue to purple flowers through spring. Frost hardy, drought tolerant and content in poor soil, it carries a lot of resilience for a plant this small.

Why you'll love it

• A groundcover that actually flowers. The purple blue spikes stand clear of the foliage in spring, which most evergreen groundcovers never manage.
• Happy in the poor stuff. It grows in thin, gravelly and unimproved soil where richer beds are not worth building.
• Native food for bees and butterflies. The flowers are worked steadily through spring, and it belongs in a garden built for local wildlife.
• Low enough to plant under things. At 25cm it sits beneath shrubs and around tree bases without competing for the view.

Where it works best

Groundcover and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart, which works out at around eleven plants per square metre. At that spacing the rosettes knit into continuous cover within two seasons.

Borders and edging. A single row along a path edge softens the line and stays low enough that it never needs cutting back off the paving.

Rockeries and dry banks. The drought tolerance and shallow root system suit pockets between rocks and the top of a bank where water runs off quickly.

Growing Austral Bugle in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to part shade. It suits subtropical, warm temperate, cool temperate and Mediterranean gardens and handles frost without protection. In hot dry inland gardens give it afternoon shade, which keeps the leaves from crisping.

Soil. Free draining ground of almost any quality. It does not need improving, and a rich wet bed is more likely to rot the crowns than grow better plants. Mulch lightly between plants until they meet.

Water and feed. Water weekly through the first summer to establish the root system, then only in long dry spells. A light application of native fertiliser in early spring is all the feeding it wants.

Pruning. Shear off the spent flower spikes once they brown to keep the planting tidy. Lift and divide crowded clumps every few years in autumn or early spring to refresh the cover.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold in two sizes, tube and a 140mm pack of ten. Tubes are small, young and the sensible choice for a large area, since a groundcover planted at 30cm centres adds up quickly. The 140mm plants are already established rosettes and close the ground about a season sooner.

Plants travel upright and are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Expect little visible change for the first month while roots move out, then steady spread through the first warm season. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Choosing the right groundcover
• Browse the groundcover range
• Explore Australian native plants
• Replacing lawn with native planting

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 30cm spacing, about eleven plants covers a square metre. Wider spacing still works, it simply takes another season for the rosettes to meet.

Can I walk on it?

Only occasionally. It is a planted groundcover rather than a lawn substitute, so it takes the odd step between beds but not regular traffic or play.

Will it take over the garden?

No. It builds outward slowly from the crown rather than running, so it stays where it is planted and is easy to lift and divide.

Does it handle frost?

Yes. It is frost hardy and grows well in cool temperate districts, where the foliage simply slows through winter and picks up again in spring.