Group 7
Ajuga (Bugleweed) and Fragaria'Lipstick' (Ornamental Strawberry) make lovely groundcovers, either separately or together, as shown here.
Both spread by runners that root readily. The ajuga will make a thick mat in a couple years. The strawberry, however, will travel willy-nilly throughout a border, cropping up between plants and showing up in paths. Both are easy to pull out of the ground if they appear in unwanted places, but are charming in an informal planting.
The ajuga will bloom only once in the spring and should be sheared back when the flowers fade to keep it neat-looking. The strawberry plants will bloom all summer, making tiny fruit to harvest as you walk about in the garden or to leave for the birds.
