Ajuga is a cover crop — grown to build and protect the soil rather than for a harvest of its own. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and shrugs off deer. Its mid summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees and native bees.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
---
Score Ajuga on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether ajuga actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score ajuga against your land's real conditions.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
What Ajuga is
Ajuga grows as a perennial and reaches around 6 inches at maturity. It blooms blue in mid summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Ajuga
Ajuga grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Ajuga does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-23°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
0.5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant ajuga in part sun with at least 4 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Ajuga prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Turn it in before it seeds
Cut ajuga down or turn it into the soil before it sets seed, while the growth is still green — that's when it returns the most to the ground.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — ajuga isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Ajuga offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Ajuga thrives
Ajuga is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Ajuga growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Ajuga can grow in these states:
See if Ajuga will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether ajuga actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Ajuga in my zone?
Ajuga grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Ajuga?
Most growers plant ajuga after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Ajuga need?
Ajuga does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Ajuga need?
Ajuga prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Ajuga attract pollinators?
Yes — ajuga's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Ajuga safe for pets?
Ajuga is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.