Burgundy Glow Bugleweed
Tricolor Foliage in Green, Cream, and Rosy Pink
Burgundy Glow Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow') brings a soft watercolor effect to the ground, with rounded leaves marbled in silvery green, creamy white, and rosy burgundy-pink that shift with the seasons. Spikes of blue flowers rise above the colorful mat in spring. This pretty, vigorous groundcover lights up shaded beds and edges and knits together to suppress weeds. Deer-resistant and easy, it's a charming carpet for Minnetonka, Lakeville, and Blaine gardens.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' |
| Mature Size | 4–6 in tall, spreading |
| Hardiness Zone | Zone 3–9 (fully hardy across Minnesota) |
| Light | Part shade to full sun |
| Bloom Time | Spring (blue spikes) |
| Foliage | Tricolor green, cream, and rosy pink; semi-evergreen |
| Soil | Average, well-drained; adaptable |
Landscape Uses
Use Burgundy Glow as a colorful groundcover under shrubs and trees, along edges, and on shaded slopes. Its variegated foliage brightens dim spots; it forms a dense mat, so site it where it can spread or edge it to contain.
Best Time to Plant
Plant in spring or early fall, when cooler weather and steady moisture help it establish and knit together.
How to Plant
Set plants level with the soil surface, spacing them 8–12 inches apart for quick coverage. Water in well and mulch lightly between plants until they fill in.
Watering
First Year: Water 1–2 times per week to establish and encourage spread.
After Year One: Water during dry spells; it's fairly drought tolerant once established.
Drip Irrigation: A drip line or soaker hose keeps the mat evenly moist as it fills in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the variegation hold in shade?
Yes, the tricolor foliage shows well in part shade; a bit of sun intensifies the pink tones.
Does it spread?
Yes, it spreads to form a groundcover; edge it to keep it out of lawns.
Is it hardy in Minnesota?
Yes, it's a Zone 3 groundcover, fully hardy statewide.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes, deer generally avoid bugleweed.
You May Also Like
Pair Burgundy Glow with hostas, ferns, and our other bugleweeds for a colorful, weed-suppressing shade planting.
How Many Burgundy Glow Bugleweed Do I Need?
Space plants 8–12 in apart; they spread into a colorful, weed-suppressing mat. Plan on roughly 1–1.5 plants per square foot.
| Area to Cover | Plants Needed (~10 in spacing) |
|---|---|
| 10 sq ft | ~14 |
| 25 sq ft | ~36 |
| 50 sq ft | ~72 |
Burgundy Glow Bugleweed Season-by-Season in Minnesota
- Spring: Blue flower spikes rise above the tricolor green, cream, and rosy-pink mat.
- Summer: The marbled foliage brightens shaded ground — a soft watercolor carpet.
- Fall: Cooling nights deepen the rosy and burgundy tones.
- Winter: A low semi-evergreen mat persists under snow, hardy to zone 3.
At a Glance
✔ Pollinator-Friendly ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Shade-Tolerant ✔ Drought-Tolerant
Plant It With
- Black Scallop Bugleweed — near-black foliage to anchor the tricolor mat.
- Bronze Beauty Bugleweed — a fast bronze-green carpet to spread alongside.
- Chocolate Chip Bugleweed — a tiny-leaved bugleweed for edges and gaps.
- Dolce Wildberry Coral Bells — bold burgundy foliage to echo the pink tones.
Is Burgundy Glow Bugleweed Right for Your Yard?
Burgundy Glow is the colorful groundcover for brightening shaded beds and edges, in part shade to full sun with average, well-drained soil — a little sun intensifies the pink. Like all bugleweeds it spreads by runners, so edge it where it meets a lawn.