If you’re a fan of ground covers, and who isn’t, you might have come across Ajuga (Ajuga reptans) with its glossy, evergreen leaves and its stunning purple, blue, or white flower spikes in mid to late spring. This is a hardy ground cover that’s deer-resistant and will choke out weeds with its dense and compact growth. It’s also perfect for planting on slopes as it helps to bind the soil and limit erosion. Plus, it can grow in those cool, shady spots where other plants may not thrive. With all those benefits that busy gardeners appreciate, you might well be wondering if there’s a suitable companion plant that can thrive alongside Ajuga and also look beautiful. Lucky for you, there’s a fresh smelling garden herb that actually loves growing with Ajuga: Common thyme.

Common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is one of those low-maintenance garden herbs that makes a good companion for a whole range of different plants, including Ajuga. This lovely plant has much smaller leaves that are more gray-green and dainty flowers in pink, white, or purple. As a side note, remember to take heed that if you’re planning to grow some ground covering Ajuga in your garden, it is regarded as invasive in a number of states including West Virginia, Maryland, and Oregon, so check with your local municipality before planting it in your yard. Unfortunately, it’s one of those common weed-suppressing plants that can become a nuisance in some areas.

Both of these spreading plants are low growing and only reach a height of 1 foot. This makes them excellent as ground covers and growing them together means that neither one will overshadow the other. While Ajuga is hardy in USDA zones 3 through 10, common thyme will fare well in zones 5 through 9, so if you garden in the latter regions, you can easily pair these two species with each other for a pleasant display.

While one of the major benefits of Ajuga is that it can grow in the shade, it’s also quite happy growing in full sun, which is important when pairing it with thyme, a sun loving plant. You’ll find that the different sized leaves of each plant can create quite an attractive contrast, and your yard will be teeming with pollinators when both species flower over spring and summer. You’ll find that Ajuga’s flower spikes will even attract hummingbirds to your yard. Apart from combining these two plant species as an effective ground cover to prevent weed growth across your garden beds, they also look great when grown between larger paving stones, as both can handle some light foot traffic. As an added bonus, common thyme is one of those plants that work as natural pest control in your yard or garden.