Modern Bugle Herb

Bugle

Also known as Common or Creeping Bugle, Bugle Weed, Babies Shoes, Baby's Rattle, Blind Mans Hand, Carpenters Herb, Dead Men's Bellows, Horse and Hounds, Nelson's Bugle, Thunder and Lightening and Middle Comfrey. From the family Labiatae.

The bugle found in Britain is a native of Europe. It is frequently found in mountainous areas and often grows in damp fields, mixed woodland and meadows. The Bugle of North America is a species of Lycopus (Gypsy Weed).

Among the many folk tales associated with bugle is one that its flowers can cause a fire if brought into the house, a belief that has survived in at least one district of Germany.

Species

Ajuga reptans

Bugle

Hardy evergreen perennial. Ht 30cm (1ft), spread up to lm (3ft). Very good spreading plant. Blue flowers from spring to summer. Oval leaves are dark green with purplish tinge. It is this plant that has medicinal properties.

Ajuga reptans ‘Atropurpurea’

Bronze Bugle

As Ajuga reptans but Ht 15cm (6in), spread lm (3ft). Blue flowers. Deep bronze/purple leaves.

Ajuga reptans ‘Multicolor’

Multicolored Bugle

As Ajuga reptans but Ht 12cm (5in), spread 45cm (18in). Small spikes of blue flowers. Dark green leaves marked with cream and pink.

Cultivation

Propagation

Seeds

Sow the small seed in autumn, or spring as a second choice. Cover only lightly with soil. Germination can be slow and erratic.

Division

This method is easy and the only one suitable for cultivars as Bugle produces runners, each having its own root system. Plant out in autumn or spring. Space 60cm (2ft) apart, as a single plant spreads rapidly.

Pests and Diseases

Nothing much disturbs this plant!

Maintenance

Spring. Clear winter debris around established plants. Dig up runners and replant in other areas. Sow seeds. Summer. Control established plants by digging up runners.

Autumn: Sow seed, dig up runners of established plants, pot on, using the bark, peat compost, and winter in cold frame, or replant in garden. Winter. No protection needed unless very cold -20°C (-6°F).

Garden Cultivation

At close quarters bugle is very appealing and can be used as a decorative ground cover. It will grow vigorously on any soil that retains moisture, in full sun, and it also tolerates quite dense shade. It will even thrive in a damp boggy area near the pond or in a hedgerow or shady woodland area. Guard against leaf scorch on the variegated.

Harvest

For medicinal usage the leaves and flowers are gathered in early summer.

Container growing

Bugle makes a good outside container plant especially the variegated and purple varieties. Use the bark, peat mix of compost. Also very effective in hanging baskets.

Culinary

The young shoots of Ajuga reptans can be mixed in salads to give you a different taste. Not mine.

Medicinal

An infusion of dried leaves in boiling water is thought to lower blood pressure and to stop internal bleeding. Nowadays it is widely used in homeopathy in various preparations against throat irritation especially in the cast of mouth ulcers.

Other uses

In some countries it is gathered as cattle fodder.