Perennial (n) - existing for a long or indefinite time, continually recurring

Perennials, also known as herbaceous perennials or Herbaceous plants, live for a minimum of 2 years, often for many seasons. Perennials, grow and bloom over the spring and summer, and generally die back every autumn and winter, reappearing on the same rootstock the following spring. Some perennials keep their leaves all year round and offer attractive borders and ground-covers.

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet Flag. This little perennial from Japan forms a clump of flattened green leaves with cream margins on short rhizomes both of which have a sweet cinnamon fragrance, especially when dried. Ideal for boggy spots or at pond/stream edges. Quite hardy and easy to grow. Semi-evergreen.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet little yellow grass for miniature gardens and fairy gardens. Tufts of spiky yellow foliage make a striking accent in little landscapes and container plantings. Has a very soft smooth feel to the fingertips and sweet fresh scent to the nose.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet Flag. This little perennial from Japan forms a clump of flattened green leaves on short rhizomes both of which have a sweet cinnamon fragrance, especially when dried. Ideal for boggy spots or at pond/stream edges. Quite hardy and easy to grow. Semi-evergreen.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Sweet Flag

Sweet Flag - A miniature little grassy perennial from Japan. Forms neat clumps of weeping green leaves on short rhizomes both of which have a sweet cinnamon fragrance, especially when dried. Ideal for boggy spots or at pond/stream edges. Quite hardy and easy to grow. Semi-evergreen.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Snakeroot

Gorgeous shrub with lacy dark foliage. New foliage emerges green and darkens to a dark purple/black colour. Upward curving spikes of white bottlebrush flowers, which are beautifully scented appear in summer. Prefers moist humus-rich soil conditions and requires a lot of water to grow. Plant in sun to part shade. Perennial.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Dark purple bugle

This ground cover has good contrast of erect, deep blue flowers with burnished purple foliage in Spring. It spreads by surface runners in the same way as a strawberry plant and can spread indefinitely. Excellent for moist areas. Wonderful for a shady border. Frost hardy trouble-free plant. Perennial.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Bugle Weed

This attractive spreading ground-cover has very interesting undulating foliage that is such a dark burgundy shade it looks black. Bright blue flowers appear in spring through to summer and contrast well with the leaves. Plant in sun or semi-shade. Perennial. PVR HOM220.

While Ajuga is a very hardy and tolerant plant it prefers a soil that does not completely dry out in summer. I have also found that the best results are achieved when Ajuga is not baking in NZ's hot afternoon sun.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Bugle

Well this is one Muffin you can't eat but plant it in a semi-shaded spot and will reward you by making a carpet of foliage topped off with spikes of sky blue flowers in spring. Great ground-cover with rosettes of dark green foliage. Tolerant of light frost but not hot dry conditions. Evergreen.

It is important that Ajuga does not completely dry out in summer. This plant will tolerate morning sun but must have afternoon shade or dappled light to do really well.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

aka Bugle

If you want a carpet of blue then this is the plant for you! A great groundcover that is quick and easy to grow. Lush rosettes of bronze-green foliage and sturdy stems of bright blue flowers in early spring. Prefers a semi-shaded spot with protection from hot afternoon sun. Evergreen.

 

CLICK TO ENLARGE

What's special about Ajuga in general is that it will grow in difficult shady spots, like the dry shade under trees. Ajuga 'Chocolate Chip' is shorter than other Ajuga, less invasive and has narrower, more delicate foliage. The leaves are dark green tinged with bronze or chocolate brown.