Ajuga (Bugleweed) is a popular, low-maintenance groundcover known for its dense, mat-forming habit and colorful foliage. This plant thrives in difficult conditions, tolerating partial to full shade where many turf grasses fail, and produces attractive spikes of blue, pink, or white flowers in spring. As deer populations expand, resistance to browsing is a primary concern for homeowners. Understanding the specific characteristics that make Ajuga less appealing helps gardeners make informed planting decisions.
Why Ajuga is Rarely Consumed
Ajuga is classified as a deer-resistant plant, receiving an “A” rating—rarely damaged—from horticultural institutions. This resistance is due to the plant’s natural chemical defense mechanisms. The foliage contains various secondary metabolites, including tannins, iridoids, and bitter-tasting alkaloids, which give the leaves an unpalatable flavor.
When a deer takes a test bite, the bitterness is typically strong enough to make the animal seek more appealing food sources. The plant’s subtle, aromatic foliage, which has a faint odor, may also contribute to its low appeal. These characteristics mean that Ajuga is generally passed over, even in areas with moderate deer presence.
Situations Where Deer Might Still Browse Ajuga
While Ajuga’s defenses are strong, “deer-resistant” does not mean “deer-proof,” and browsing can occur under specific conditions. The primary factor overriding natural resistance is extreme foraging pressure, which happens when deer populations are high and competition for food is intense. In these situations, a starving deer will consume plants it would normally avoid simply to survive.
Newly established plantings are also more vulnerable, as the tender, young leaves may contain lower concentrations of bitter compounds. Local environmental stress, such as prolonged drought or deep winter snow, can diminish a deer’s alternative food supply. When preferred plants become scarce, even the bitter foliage of Ajuga may become a necessary food source. Young fawns sometimes sample plants indiscriminately before learning which ones to avoid, leading to minor, localized browsing damage.
Protecting Ajuga from Heavy Deer Pressure
When Ajuga is damaged, gardeners can employ strategies to make the plant temporarily unappealing and deter persistent browsing. Commercial deer repellents are highly effective, utilizing a foul scent or an unpleasant taste, often containing putrefied eggs or capsaicin. These taste-based repellents must be reapplied regularly, especially after heavy rain or when new growth emerges.
For small, newly planted areas, temporary physical barriers, such as fine netting or chicken wire hoops, provide protection until the plants are established. Motion-activated sprinklers offer a non-chemical, surprising deterrent that conditions deer to avoid the area. Placing strongly scented items, like bars of soap or sachets of fragranced herbs, near the patch can confuse the deer’s sense of smell.
Other Reliable Deer-Resistant Groundcovers
If Ajuga proves too risky for a landscape with high deer pressure, several other groundcovers offer reliable resistance. Creeping sedum (Sedum spp.) features thick, succulent leaves that deer dislike due to their fleshy texture and bitter taste. Lamium (Lamium maculatum), or spotted dead nettle, is avoided because of its slightly fuzzy leaves and subtle, minty aroma.
Pachysandra, or Japanese spurge, forms a dense, evergreen carpet and is rarely browsed, likely due to its thick foliage and the slightly pungent scent of its white flowers. Bigroot geranium (Geranium macrorrhizum) is also reliably deer-resistant, distinguished by highly aromatic leaves that release a strong, spicy scent when touched. These alternatives offer diverse textures and colors while providing proven resistance.