What does creeping Charlie look like? The common garden weed creeping Charlie (also known as ground ivy) has many overlooked medicinal and edible uses. They scatter lots of seeds so one spray will not eradicate the problem. A close cousin of purple dead nettle is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). They do not usually grow more than 10 inches (25 cm) in height. Creeping Charlie is a difficult to control lawn weed. Grieve does mention that the furry galls that can form on the leaves in autumn if punctured by the Cynips glechomae wasp have a strong flavour of the plant and are sometimes eaten by the peasantry of France.. Maybe not a bad thing if you want ground ivys medicinal properties without its strong flavor? Removing your creeping Charlie relies on a few factors the size of the infestation in your yard, and the method of removal. HealthyGreenSavvy is committed to protecting your privacy. Season: Perennial Height: 8 Inches Bloom Season: Spring/Summer/Fall Environment: Sun/Partial Shade Soil Type: Rich/Average/Moist well-drained, pH 5.5-7.5 USDA Zones: 3-10 PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS Sow Indoors: Winter/Spring (4-6 weeks before last frost) Sow Outdoors: Spring/Fall Seed Depth: Surface sowing - press seeds slightly into the soil This plant is commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, typically under trees. Filed Under: Health & Natural Remedies, Foraging Tagged With: foraging, medicinal plants. Heres how to make a tincture, a simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them in alcohol. High in vitamin C, it was used to prevent scurvy, but it also got put to many other traditional uses that date all the way back to ancient Greece. Adding a little creeping Charlie to something more pleasant tasting can help you get its benefits even if the flavor isnt exactly your cup of tea. Step 1: Cover the area. Some people drink ground ivy tea on its own or with lemon and honey. Creeping Charlie is an invasive groundcover that can quickly choke out grass and ornamental plants. The leaves of dollarweed are round, bright green, fleshy, and look like miniature lily pads measuring 1-2" in diameter with a scalloped edge. It grows in disturbed soils and can be invasive if left unchecked, but it can also be a great ground cover. Learn about these excellent creeping Charlie uses, and you may never look at it the same way again. Creeping Charlie isnt a nettle. Creeping Charlie is an herbaceous plant that spreads by seed and by stolons (creeping stems). However, if there are only a few small creeping Charlie plants in your yard, then pulling by hand is a good choice. Creeping Charlie has kidney-shaped to rounded bright green leaves with scalloped margins and which attach to the main stem through relatively long leaf stalks. Each flower soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique. It's best to put a newspaper or cardboard barrier and then a second layer of a tarp to block sunlight. Ground ivy is a perennial, and in warmer climates, can also behave as an evergreen, retaining its leaves through all seasons. But its abundance, medicinal properties, and its persistently green leaves some of the last to be seen when temperatures take a nosedive for our long, cold winter and the first to hint of green things to come when the snow finally melts made me determined to find a way to use creeping Charlie. The flowers have five petals with a white and purple combination of colors. This perennial has many common names: ground ivy, creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, and in my neighborhood, cemetery weed. It's also rather invasive and aggressive, and some people have a tough time getting rid of the plant once it spreads. Malva neglecta is frequently consumed as a food. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Creeping charlie has a long history of medicinal use. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. Here are a few distinguishing factors between common crabgrass and its look-alikes. The story I tell: To me, there are two great identification features for chickweed. Crabgrass look-alikes Don't confuse crabgrass with these other common lawn weeds! Renowned herbalist Susun Weed likes to make an herbal vinegar from ground ivy. It also blooms in early summer or late spring. Creeping Charlie is a difficult plant to control because it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or leaf. The perennial plant has round, bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny, bright yellow flowers. Black plastic may work better, just make sure to cover all of it. Purple Dead Nettle spreads through stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged heart-shaped leaves. Carefully spray the poison on top of each plants leaves. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. Also known as red deadnettle or the purple archangel, purple deadnettle is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners (or stolons), just like Creeping Charlie. If you meet resistance, use your pitchfork again to make the soil a little looser. You've come to the right place! All three common names hint at this plant's growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy. Its leaves, shoots, and even the stems and flowers are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes. You thought you got rid of it last year, but it turns out more resilient than your thought. However, youll need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the creeping Charlie. However, henbits leaves are not as glossy as those of creeping Charlie, and its flowers are pink or purple, not dark purple. Its pink flowers have a much longer tube than dead nettle flowers. Creeping Charlie is difficult to mow and can make your lawn look patchy. Purple dead-nettle has upright square stems which are usually bright green when the plant is young and then may get a crimson tint beginning from the base when maturing. The larger the plant gets, the harder it is to remove. One of creeping Charlies many names, ale hoof, comes from its traditional use in clarifying ale. It is also called Cheese plant, Dwarf Mallow, Buttonweed, and Cheeseweed. Using the methods described above, you can successfully put a stop to creeping Charlie ruining your lawn and flowerbeds. Crabgrass look alikes. STEP 1: Prune Creeping Charlie to expose the roots. Also called ground ivy, the plant is actually in the mint family, which is known for its tendency to spread. Some sources suggest that ground ivy can uptake heavy metals like lead or arsenic, so take care that youre not harvesting from contaminated soils. As with any herb, you always want to make sure you dont have an adverse reaction before consuming in quantity. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. The third look-alike plant, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), is a challenging species. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. This plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants. Always follow the product label for directions for the proper use of herbicides. Its most effective for you to spray your creeping Charlie in the fall, disrupting its preparation for the dormancy during the winter. . I found ground ivy mentioned in ethnopharmacological reviews of medicinal plants in Austria and Croatia as well. Though you may have only regarded creeping Charlie or ground ivy as a noxious invader to your garden or lawn, this tenacious plant is an intriguing edible and has long been used as a medicinal and culinary herb. Interesting. It also grows in landscapes, waste places, and disturbed sites, on both acidic and alkaline soils, and is common throughout the US. Some say ground ivy can be eaten like spinach in soups and casseroles, just proceed with caution. Some gardeners might confuse the creeping Charlie for the creeping Jenny. Dispose of the remaining herbicide following manufacturers guidelines. I look forward to purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) each April. Keep reading to find out how herbalists recommend using it, as well as recipes for using it as a culinary herb. A member of the mint family, creeping Charlie goes by many names, including ground ivy, Glechoma hederacea, ale-hoof, gill-over-the-ground, field balm, and cats foot,plus all sorts of expletives uttered by exasperated lawn-lovers who cant get rid of the stuff. Please consult a licensed professional concerning any health condition. Creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea ), also known under names like ground-ivy, alehoof, catsfoot, field balm, or run-away-robin, is a perennial, evergreen plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. The margins of the leaves have lobes or teeth. Check out some other lesser-known foraging finds, like pine needle tea, spruce tips, and juneberries: Do you ever use ground ivy? The round leaves grow parallel to the soil and are seen growing in groups much like Dollar Weed. What an interesting question! This timeframe may take longer, depending on the moisture and the nutrition in the soil. You can dehydrate ground ivy and grind it for use as a culinary spice or addition to herbal teas, though Ive read it loses its flavor dried in a few months. Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is an adaptable, insidious weed thats resilient to damage, making it incredibly challenging to remove from the garden. More about me and my green projects here. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. So, there is no risk of poisoning if these two plants are mistaken for each other. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens. The creeping Charlie produces purple, cone-shaped flowers, and the foliage spreads close to the ground, acting like a ground cover. Native to Europe, it was introduced to North America in the 1800s as both an ornamental and a medicinal plant. It is an evergreen, perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family (mints). Mature plants do not exceed more than 10 inches in height. It also releases an aromatic scent when stepped on or brushed against. Often mistakenly called Dollar Weed, this is Dichondra. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. Your email address will not be published. Annual broadleaf weeds - Have a life cycle that lasts only one growing season. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. It can form dense carpet-like mats that displace other ground plant cover. 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