Although it prefers partial shade, upright bugle will tolerate sun if planted in rich, moist soil. It grows best in moist soil (never waterlogged) that is rich in organic matter. Before planting, incorporate lots of leaf compost or peat moss, especially if the soil is light and sandy. Mulching with 2 to 3 inches of leaf compost will keep soil moist and maintain a high humus level, a condition this plant favors. Keep plants looking neat by removing spent blossoms at the end of the bloom season. Plants can be divided easily almost any time, providing the soil is kept moist and the transplants are shaded from hot sun.
Upright bugle has showy 6- to 9-inch spikes of rich violet-blue blossoms and puts on quite a show when in bloom. After flowering, it makes a refined ground cover of dark green foliage. Unlike the more familiar common bugle, which is widely used as a ground cover because it spreads like a weed, this cousin is a well-mannered, clump-forming plant. It is easy to grow and requires little maintenance once established.
The most attractive plantings of upright bugle are those where large groups are situated in light shade under trees and large bushes. Upright bugle is ideal for a woodland garden, as well as on the east side of buildings, where it is shaded by the building during the brightest part of the day. Use it with other ground covers for a contrast in texture with a bonus of spring flowers.
ZONES: 3–10
BLOOM TIME: Late spring
LIGHT: Part shade
HEIGHT: 6–9 inches
INTEREST: Attractive ground cover with spikes of violet-blue flowers and a tidy, noninvasive habit