The pretty Creeping Günsel, usually with blue flowers, is ideal for greening larger areas in the sun or semi-shade. The attractive plant also cuts a fine figure in balcony boxes and pots. The greatest ornamental value of this ancient medicinal plant is its foliage, which remains even winter green - even if it suffers from very severe frosts.

The creeping bugle is an ancient medicinal plant

Crawling Günsel - data and facts at a glance

  • Botanical name: Ajuga reptans
  • Common names: crawling bugle, meadow bugle, gilded bugle, gargle herb
  • Family: Lamiaceae (Lamiaceae)
  • Origin and distribution: Europe, North Africa, Iran
  • Habitat: in light and semi-shady meadows, in deciduous forests, at the edges of forests, in hedges and gardens with nutrient-rich soil
  • Growth: herbaceous
  • Perennial: yes
  • Height: 10 to 30 centimeters
  • Flower: false whorl
  • Colours: blue, pink or white
  • Flowering time: April to June
  • Fruit: Four-part Klausen fruit
  • leaves: arranged in rosettes around the stem; green, silvery-green or brown-red in colour
  • Propagation: seeds, division
  • Hardiness: yes
  • Toxicity: no
  • Use: ornamental and medicinal plant
  • Harvest time: May to June (flowers)

Identifying features of the crawling bugle

The creeping bugle spreads very quickly through root suckers and self-sowing, it is very assertive. Ovate, slightly sinuate and wavy - sometimes serrated - about six to eight centimeters long, evergreen leaves spread out flat in loose rosettes. The non-hairy foliage usually stays lower than ten centimeters. Between April and June appear between 15 and 25 centimeters long inflorescences with about two centimeters long - usually violet-blue - flowers, which are in a squat raceme. Varieties with patterned or brown-red colored leaves are very attractive.

Cultivation of the creeping bugle in the garden

A sunny to partially shaded spot is just the thing. Too shady Günsel easily gets powdery mildew, which can occur not only in problem locations, but also in very wet years. Most of the time, however, the plants are so vigorous and robust that the infestation has hardly any effect and is primarily an aesthetic deficiency. Nevertheless, the soil must not dry out too much - the creeping bugle prefers moderately moist, nutrient-rich soil.

Use as a medicinal plant

Traditionally, the creeping Günsel is used internally and externally as an infusion. When drunk as a tea, the plant is said to help against heartburn, stomatitis, tonsillitis or insomnia; externally for wounds, scars or ulcers. The plant mainly contains essential oils and tannic acids.

tips

Quite well known and justifiably popular is the comparatively large-leaved variety "Catlin's Giant", whose initially deep red leaves change to a dark shade of green over the course of the year. The handsome flowers are bright purple-blue in color.

Category:

Indoor plants