General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils with good drainage, but tolerates moderately dry ones. Will grow in full shade, but best foliage color is in sunny locations (at least 3-4 hours of sun per day). Divide when clumps become overcrowded. A fast-growing plant which will spread in the garden by stolons to form an attractive, low-growing ground cover. Not as aggressive as many of the other ajugas, however. Larger plantings may be mowed on a high mower setting to remove spent flower spikes and to tidy the appearance of the planting. Space plants 6-9" apart for quick cover.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

‘Valfredda’, commonly sold under the trade name of CHOCOLATE CHIP, is a bugleweed cultivar that is most noted for its extremely dwarf habit and its chocolate foliage. It is perhaps best utilized as a small area ground cover. It typically forms a foliage mat to only 2” tall of tiny, shiny, oval leaves (1/2” across) which are chocolate with burgundy highlights. Typical bluish-purple ajuga flowers appear in spring on spikes rising slightly above the foliage to 3” tall. When in full flower, plantings can produce a striking floral display, however this cultivar is primarily grown for its foliage and dwarf size. This cultivar was introduced into commerce by Valfredda Nursery in Italy.