Family: Lamiaceae

Ajuga reptans, commonly known as common bugleweed, is a fast-spreading groundcover in the mint family. Native to Europe, it is often grown for its attractive foliage and spikes of blue flowers that bloom in spring. The plant spreads by stolons, forming dense mats that can suppress weeds and cover large areas quickly. Its ability to tolerate shade, poor soils, and a variety of growing conditions makes it a popular choice in landscaping. However, this adaptability also increases its risk of escaping cultivation and spreading beyond intended areas.

In Hawaiʻi, Ajuga reptans has been noted in cultivation but is not reported to be naturalized. Despite its ornamental appeal, it has invasive tendencies in other parts of the world, where it displaces native plants and alters understory communities. Once established, its dense growth can be very difficult to remove. Homeowners and landscapers are encouraged to choose non-invasive alternatives when seeking groundcovers and to monitor existing plantings carefully to prevent spread into surrounding natural areas.

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in non-native regions (e.g., U.S., New Zealand)
  
• Weed in gardens, lawns, and grasslands
  
• Repeatedly introduced as an ornamental
  
• Unpalatable to deer and grazing animals
  
• Host for multiple plant viruses
  
• Spreads vegetatively via stolons
  
• Unintentionally dispersed through garden waste
  
• Intentionally planted as ground cover
  
• Tolerates mowing and cultivation
  
• Shade-tolerant
  
• Tolerates a wide range of soils and climates

Low Risk Traits:

• Non-toxic to humans and animals
  
• Not parasitic or allelopathic
  
• Not aquatic, climbing, or thicket-forming
  
• Does not increase fire risk
  
• No specialized dispersal (e.g., wind, water, birds)
  
• No evidence of hybridization
  
• Low seed production
  
• Not adapted to tropical climates