Ajuga reptans Gold Chang

'Ajuga reptans 'Gold Chang', which can be translated as "Gold Treasure" is a brand new variety of creeping bugle selected in Japan for its foliage with golden hues, its healthy growth, and its refined appearance. This semi-evergreen perennial groundcover quickly forms a carpet of small rounded leaves, which come alive in spring with short spikes of pale pink flowers, nestled in lime green leaves tinged with yellow. Perfect in semi-shaded beds or in moist rockeries, this creeping bugle also has a great impact in hanging baskets. It should be grown in moist soil, sheltered from the scorching sun.

Ajuga reptans is a perennial plant of the mint family, Lamiaceae, and is very widespread in Europe, especially in its central and northern regions. It is also found in Western Asia and Algeria. This selection 'Gold Chang' was awarded a silver medal at Plantarium 2019. It grows moderately fast and stands out for the rare colour of its foliage and its moderate vigour. This perennial plant roots itself due to its stolons and eventually forms a carpet 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) tall, with a minimum diameter of 40 cm (16in). It develops rosettes of semi-evergreen to evergreen leaves, oblong, puckered, and veined, with dentate edges. The young leaves are light green with yellow markings, while the older leaves are lime in colour. From May onwards, small spike-like inflorescences appear above the foliage, consisting of flowers no more than a few millimetres in size, which are a pastel pink, somewhat mauve colour,  interspersed with small round leaves. They bloom for at least 3 weeks.

Ajuga reptans 'Gold Chang' is a particularly luminous variety, perfect for highlighting neighbouring plants and brightening slightly shaded areas of the garden. If it tends to escape the boundaries set for it, its growth is easy to control by removing the creeping stolons. Beautiful pots can be made by combining it with anemones, alyssum, or campanula. Bugles are among the best groundcover plants; they are perfect for dressing the base of trees and bushes, in shaded beds in association with spring bulbs or colourful lamiums, elf flowers (Epimedium) with graceful flowers and beautiful foliage, or Geranium macrorrhizum. They are good companions for hostas and shade-loving perennial geraniums. In moist rockeries, they can be planted alongside Acaena 'Blue Haze' or buchananii, Azorella trifurcata 'Nana', lady's mantles, and saxifrages.