Princess Nadia Bugle

Princess Nadia Bugle (Ajuga tenorii 'Princess Nadia') is a petite groundcover that forms a neat mound only 15cm high and 25cm wide. Its small grey-green leaves are edged in cream and tipped purple-pink where new growth appears, and deep blue flower spikes follow in spring and summer. It is the Italian bugle, more compact and more heat resistant than common bugle.

Why you'll love it

• Patterned leaves all year. Grey-green foliage with a cream edge and purple-pink tips gives colour in every season, not only when it flowers.
• Deep blue flowers. Spikes of deep blue bloom through spring and summer above the foliage mound.
• Sun or shade. It grows from sun to shade and is more resilient in full sun than other bugles.
• Compact and tidy. It stays in a neat mound, which suits small gardens and patio pots, and it needs no pruning.
• Frost tolerant. It copes with cold winters, which makes it dependable across southern gardens.

Where it works best

Between pavers and along path edges. Plant 25cm apart to soften hard edges. The small mounds knit together into a patterned carpet.

Under shrubs and trees. The cream-edged foliage lights up shady ground beneath taller plants, where many groundcovers struggle.

Mass planting. At 25cm spacing it fills a bed with a low, colourful cover that needs little care once it has settled.

Pots and containers. Use it at the foot of a taller plant in a large pot, or on its own in a small container on a patio.

Growing Princess Nadia Bugle in Australia

Position and climate. Sun to shade. The pink leaf colour is stronger out of full direct sun, so bright shade or morning sun gives the best effect. It is frost tolerant, and suits cool temperate, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens. In hot gardens give it afternoon shade.

Soil. Moist, well draining, humus-rich soil gives the best results. Dig in compost before planting and avoid sites that stay waterlogged.

Water and feed. Mulch and water regularly until established, usually around 12 weeks, and keep watering through dry periods. Apply a slow release fertiliser in spring.

Pruning. No pruning is required.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Princess Nadia Bugle as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly, and in 140mm pots in packs of 10. Tubes are the economical way to cover a large area, while a pack of ten gives a fuller start for a path or border. Expect a small plant at first, and a carpet within a couple of seasons at 25cm spacing.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• The best groundcovers for shade in Australian gardens
• Groundcovers to plant between pavers and steppers
• Browse ajuga and bugleweed
• More groundcover plants

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a groundcover?

Twenty-five centimetres apart. That matches the mature width, so the mounds touch and close up into a continuous cover within a couple of seasons.

Will it take full sun?

Yes, it is more resilient in full sun than other bugles, but the pink colour is stronger out of direct sun. In a hot position, give it shade in the afternoon and keep the soil moist.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes. It suits containers and patio pots because it stays compact. Use a quality potting mix, water regularly, and feed with a slow release fertiliser in spring.