Ajuga Feathered Friends 'Parrot Paradise' is one of the most colorful ajugas available with foliage blending coral, orange, and gold tones into a vibrant rosette. It retains its multicolored hue year round and intensifies in cooler seasons. Blue flower spikes appear in spring creating a vivid mix of warm and cool tones. Its eye catching foliage makes it popular in containers, rock gardens, and accent plantings.
Height & Spread: 4 - 6 in x 12 - 18 in
Bloom Time: Mid to late spring
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Moist, fertile soil with good drainage
Watering Needs: Moderate; keep evenly moist in high heat
Deer Resistance: Resistant to deer and rabbits
Native Status
This variety was bred from Ajuga reptans, native to Europe. Though non native, it performs well in North American gardens as a bold, spreading ground cover with year round interest.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Bees
- Attracts honeybees and bumblebees during its bloom period, offering reliable early nectar.
Butterflies
- Flowers are visited by smaller butterflies like the Eastern Tailed Blue and American Lady for nectar.
Moths
- Colorful flower spikes occasionally draw day flying moths such as the Chickweed Geometer.
Birds
- Foliage provides shelter for wrens and chickadees foraging near the ground in shaded beds.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations:
- Space 10 - 12 in apart to establish a consistent carpet of color and texture.
Landscape Placement:
- Great for container combinations, front border edges, rock gardens, or mass plantings where dramatic foliage contrast is desired.
Companion Plants
- Iberis sempervirens (Candytuft) - White flowers highlight the intense foliage colors in spring.
- Tiarella cordifolia (Foamflower) - Delicate blooms and lobed foliage balance Ajuga’s vibrant mats.
- Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - Silver veined foliage pairs well with coral and orange leaf tones.
- Heuchera 'Obsidian' - Dark foliage enhances visual contrast and seasonal layering.
- Hosta 'Blue Angel' - Giant blue leaves complement the warm tones of Ajuga foliage.