Flower profile

Carpet bugle

Ajuga reptans

Carpet bugle (Ajuga reptans) is a flowering plant in the Lamiaceae family, introduced in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–May across the U.S.

Introduced in the lower 48

Carpet bugle is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as introduced in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 8 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–May.

33states where USDA records it

8Bloomipedia state lists include it

24,531U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania

Quick look

Ajuga reptans is commonly known as bugle, blue bugle, bugleherb, bugleweed, carpetweed, carpet bugleweed, and common bugle, and traditionally as St. Lawrence plant. It is an herbaceous flowering plant in the mint family Lamiaceae, native to Europe. It is also a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures, a Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the United Kingdom.
From Wikipedia's article Ajuga reptans, CC BY-SA 4.0.

It belongs to the Lamiaceae family. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists it as introduced in the lower 48 states and records it in 33 states. ^{USDA PLANTS}
In Pennsylvania, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
In New York, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–May. ^iNaturalist
USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as blue. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid summer. ^{USDA PLANTS}
USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 0.3 ft. ^{USDA PLANTS}
iNaturalist has 2,729 research-grade sightings of it in Pennsylvania, ranking #76 among the 190 flowers on our Pennsylvania list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,640 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #89 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. ^iNaturalist
iNaturalist has 2,053 research-grade sightings of it in Ohio, ranking #88 among the 186 flowers on our Ohio list. ^iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (2,096 records)

Bloom time in the 8 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it

State	Type	Peak bloom	Sightings*
Pennsylvania	Introduced	April–May	2,729
New York	Introduced	April–May	2,640
Ohio	Introduced	April–May	2,053
Massachusetts	Introduced	April–May	1,853
New Jersey	Introduced	April–May	1,249
Maryland	Introduced	April–May	1,111
Connecticut	Introduced	April–May	862
Delaware	Introduced	few records (16)	138

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)

Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. ^{USFWS ECOS}

NatureServe global

GNR Not yet ranked worldwide. ^NatureServe

State rare plant lists

Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 8 of our 8 states.

See each state

Pennsylvania: Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Pennsylvania. ^{17 Pa. Code Ch. 45}
New York: Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New York. ^{6 NYCRR § 193.3}
Ohio: Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Ohio. ^{OAC 1501:18-1-03}
Massachusetts: Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Massachusetts. ^{MESA list}
New Jersey: Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in New Jersey. ^{N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1}
Maryland: Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Maryland. ^{COMAR 08.03.08}
Connecticut: Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Connecticut. ^{CT E/T/SC list}
Delaware: Not listed Not on Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list). NatureServe: SNA, not applicable (usually because it isn't native there) in Delaware. ^{DE rare plants 2024}

Rare elsewhere

No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no edibility or poison notes on its page), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people. ^{NC State Extension}

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records carpet bugle in 33 states plus Washington, D.C.

AKMEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILWIMINYRIMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

Pennsylvania counties with USDA records: Allegheny, Berks, Blair, Centre, Chester, Clearfield, Erie, Fayette, Huntingdon, Lehigh, Luzerne, McKean, Monroe, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Warren, Wayne, Westmoreland.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Cattaraugus, Delaware, Dutchess, Greene, Kings, Nassau, Oneida, Ontario, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Rockland, Suffolk, Ulster, Westchester.

Ohio counties with USDA records: Ashtabula, Athens, Butler, Columbiana, Cuyahoga, Fairfield, Franklin, Geauga, Hancock, Highland, Lake, Licking, Mahoning, Ottawa, Portage, Ross, Stark, Summit, Trumbull, Van Wert.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Carpet bugle a low shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and high moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.5 to 7.5 and winter lows down to -23 °F.

Shade tolerance: Low
Drought tolerance: Medium
Moisture use: High
Soil textures it is adapted to: medium, fine
Soil pH range: 5.5 to 7.5
Minimum temperature tolerated: -23 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum): 160
Annual precipitation range: 35 to 65 inches
Minimum root depth: 10 inches
Salinity tolerance: Low
Fertility requirement: Medium
Growth rate: Rapid
Lifespan: Moderate
Active growth period: Spring, Summer, Fall
Can be propagated by: container, sprigs
Commercial availability: Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for AJRE. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Introduced; Lower 48 states: Introduced.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 186 counties across 24 states; the most are in Louisiana (21), Ohio (20), Pennsylvania (19).

More from the Lamiaceae family (44 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Common selfheal, Ground-ivy, Red deadnettle, American beautyberry, Henbit deadnettle, Wild bergamot, Lyreleaf sage, American germander.

More Pennsylvania flowers

Ground-ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in PA: April–May

Red deadnettle

Lamium purpureum

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in PA: March–May

Common selfheal

Prunella vulgaris

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in PA: June–September

Sources

USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile AJRE.
iNaturalist, Ajuga reptans: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
Wikipedia, Ajuga reptans (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
State rare and invasive plant lists (16):
Show all 16 state lists
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023).
- Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Noxious Weed List (3 Pa.C.S. § 1519, PA Dept. of Agriculture) (PDA's page spells garlic mustard “Allaria petiolata”; we match it as Alliaria petiolata).
- New York: New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3).
- New York: New York prohibited and regulated invasive species (6 NYCRR Part 575).
- Ohio: Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024).
- Ohio: Ohio invasive plant species (Ohio Adm. Code 901:5-30-01).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90).
- Massachusetts: Massachusetts Prohibited Plant List (MDAR) (Text from MDAR's 2023 scientific-name PDF (mass.gov blocks automated downloads); 2024-2026 additions listed on the mass.gov page: Alnus glutinosa, Pyrus calleryana, Miscanthus sinensis, Aralia elata, Rhodotypos scandens, Symplocos paniculata.).
- New Jersey: New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1).
- New Jersey: New Jersey prohibited invasive plant species (Invasive Species Management Act; propagation banned from Jan 1, 2027, sale from Jan 1, 2030).
- Maryland: Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08).
- Maryland: Maryland Prohibited Invasive Plant List (COMAR 15.06.04.06; MDA, updated July 2026).
- Connecticut: Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list).
- Connecticut: Connecticut prohibited invasive plants (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 22a-381d).
- Delaware: Rare and Uncommon Plants of Delaware (DNREC, 2024; informational, Delaware has no state plant-protection list).
- Delaware: Delaware Invasive Plant List (3 Del. Admin. Code § 806-3.0).
USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
NatureServe Explorer, Ajuga reptans (global and state ranks).
Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension.
Photo: Luka S. (someplant) via iNaturalist · CC0 · resized.