The creeping Charlie likes growing in moist, shady areas of your yard. Type above and press Enter to search. Mature plants do not exceed more than 10 inches in height. I think unlike the bland and also early Virginia waterleaf, creeping Charlie might be truly revolting in a frittata, but I havent dared to try. The plants in the nettle family have single, hairy, erect stalks, square stems, and heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges and pointed tips. Ground moles can wreak havoc on your lawn, leaving unsightly mounds and tunnels in their wake.. Correct identification is essential as management techniques differ. So, there is no risk of poisoning if these two plants are mistaken for each other. If the creeping Charlie does manage to seed, youre going to have a big problem in your yard the following season. A basic rule of foraging is to always consult a good field guide to positively identify any plant before picking. 15. Pin to save these creeping Charlie uses for later! Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and has been a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. This page has a nice comparison that can clarify their differences. Flowers are irregular, tubular, about inch long, light blue to deep purple-blue or reddish-purple. It can also multiply via rhizomes and seeds. Instead, patiently wait until after the autumns first frost, then apply broadleaved herbicides, often in combination products. In its low-growing rosette form, garlic mustard looks like these common plants: fringecup ( Tellima grandiflora) - look for hairy leaves and stems piggy-back plant, ( Tolmiea menziesii) - look for hairy leaves and stems After removing all the creeping Charlie check to make sure you got all the roots. Heres more on the different creeping Charlies from Awkward Botany if youre curious. Please consult them for more information and a licensed professional for personalized recommendations. Its scientific name is Lysimachia nummularia. The Holistic Herbal recommends it for sinus problems, coughs and bronchitis, tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis. She also includes ground ivy in her guide to foraging medicinal plants. The leafs top part is dark green with a purple or light green underside. Henbit is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly. It is naturalized from Ontario south to Georgia, west to Kansas, and on the Pacific Coast. Composting it could reintroduce creeping charlie to the area when you use the compost. creeping charlie is a ground vine (ground ivy) so has a different stem set-up. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie, such as the shape of its leaves and its flowers. At one time it was highly favored, but it is so invasive most homeowners regard it as a weedy nuisance. Don long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves. In 2017, Camille shared an Instagram photo wearing a red lip and a burgundy jacket, which resulted in both fans and headlines . The flowers are tubular and have white and yellow markings. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Your email address will not be published. The leaves are produced opposite each other on square (i.e., four-sided), creeping stems that root at the nodes. Press Esc to cancel. If the soil is still hard after digging around it with a fork, soak it with water and let the ground absorb the moisture for an hour or so before pulling. Source: gmayfield10. Creeping Charlie and Pennywort are not the same. Stay strong and confident. 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. It shares the square stem of the mint family and its mild scent. What an interesting question! Interesting. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. What are you planning to use it for? Honey bees and bumble bees visit to gather nectar. The plant also has medicinal uses and, when crushed, is quite fragrant. Water the ground thoroughly and dig up the root system. Mature plants do not exceed more than 12 inches in height. However, there is no guarantee that the plant wont return next year, even if you manage to kill it with one of these methods. is an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. Mature Common Mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high. Or if you have a mulberry tree, try some delicious mulberry tree leaf tea. . Ratings. Contact her at hollie@gardenbeast.com or follow on twitter https://twitter.com/greenholliec. Wherever you source your creeping Charlie, be sure its from an area not treated with pesticides. Creeping Charlie and Garlic Mustard arent the same. Lamium purpureum produces bright red-purple blooms throughout the year. There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . It even has violet-purple flowers in late spring. Heres how to make a tincture, a simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them in alcohol. [6] 6. I didn't know it was actually, something with a decent name. Additionally, this weed can reduce the quality of your lawn. Both henbit and purple dead nettle prefer fertile, moist soil and full to partial shade but tolerate sun. Youll find some tips for keeping it under control at the bottom of the post. Due to the shape of its leaves and the way it grows, it is sometimes confused with creeping Charlie, especially when the plants are young, before blooming. Today, this plant is widespread throughout many states of the United States. Managing them or not managing them is a matter of personal preference. First, you're going to need to cover the area of ivy that you want to get rid of. This plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants. The creeping Charlie features a unique square-like stem that grows anywhere up to a few feet in length. 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. It has dark green fan-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia but spread in many other regions of the world. This plant is commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, typically under trees. You can get rid of creeping charlie in flower beds by either hand pulling (after rain or watering works best) or with smothering techniques, either using several layers of newspaper or a thick application of mulch, or even both together. It kills anything around it, smothering the roots, blocking sunlight, and preventing water and nutrition from reaching the roots of your plants. Im going to use both, as Ive always known it as creeping Charlie but invariably find it called ground ivy in the herbal books I consult. If the plants are cut down spray the exposed growth. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. Creeping Charlie, like some other members of the mint family, contains a compound called pulegone, which is considered harmful if consumed in large amounts. Like the Creeping Charlie, Mazus reptans is low maintenance, requiring occasional weeding and trimming. Identifying crabgrass can be a problem because of the assortment of portraits it can claim. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. They scatter lots of seeds so one spray will not eradicate the problem. Studies indicate it is also strongly antibacterial. Its round evergreen leaves with scalloped margins are attached to the stem by a short stalk. The margins of the leaves have lobes or teeth. It is a plant native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta), also known as Dwarf Mallow, Cheese Plant, Cheeseweed, and Buttonweed, is a flowering plant native to Europe. Creeping Charlie flowers produce an average of 0.3 microliters of nectar per flower, but the amount of nectar in any one flower varies greatly, ranging from 0.06 to 2.4 microliters. But the lack of data doesnt mean a beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have some valuable properties. Creeping Charlie is a low-growing, evergreen plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners (or stolons). Creeping Charlie has a minty smell when mowed or crushed. The creeping Charlie lookalikes discussed above can also offer great ground cover. Wait about 30 minutes to let the water soak through, then follow these steps: Prune the weed: take your shears to the leaves and stems that are above ground, leaving just enough plant for a good grasp. Added: May 6, 2022Updated: February 1, 2023. that just makes a drought-stressed lawn look worse. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. Creeping Charlie (glechoma hederacea) is a perennial creeping ivy that invades yards and takes over. Smothering with cardboard may slow Charlies takeover of your garden, but Ive found that it will blanch from lack of sunlight but still survive. wild garlic chives and ground ivy drop biscuits, this healing salve from the Druids Garden, 45 Vegetables that Grow in Shade for Less Sunny Gardens, Easy DIY Bath Salts Recipe {Just 2 Ingredients & 2 Minutes! The stems and leaves have needle-like hairs. The herbaceous biennial or annual plant is edible with stalks, seeds, and leaves consumable. When used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn. Then you need to find some creeping charlie! It spreads efficiently and quickly through stolons (creeping stems), seeds, or rhizomes. The flowers have a unique strategy for rewarding visitor pollinators, commonly referred to as the "lucky hit" strategy. Who do I need to contact to buy the plants? 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. It gets its name since the leaves smell like garlic when crushed. It has a very similar leaf shape with distinct venation, but they are borne from a vine rather than a basal rosette, and its purple flowers look nothing like mustard flowers. Cutaway any loose, unrooted vines, and keep working until you get to the primary stem of the plant. Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Unlike garlic mustard, neither of these species send up tall flowering stalks and their flowers are purple and irregular. But Dichondra is smaller and prefers shady moist areas of the lawn. As mentioned, creeping Charlie is a very invasive plant. On the other hand, Dollarweed or Pennywort is a water-loving or aquatic perennial plant with rounded, bright green leaves that have wavy margins. Want some super-simple ways to live healthier now? Yes, even I consider it a weed, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds! Creeping Charlie is an herbaceous plant that spreads by seed and by stolons (creeping stems). Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta) is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? The flowers are tiny, white and with 5 peculiar petals shaped like a 'V' (making it look like they are 10!). Carefully spray the poison on top of each plants leaves. However, since the plant has volatile oils in high concentrations, it can harm livestock, especially horses. Select a heading to expand the details. Fortunately, we have three methods of getting rid of creeping Charlie from your yard for good. So, lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification! Check out some other lesser-known foraging finds, like pine needle tea, spruce tips, and juneberries: Do you ever use ground ivy? I find the flavor of the fresh plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice. However, the leaves arent glossy like Creeping Charlie leaves. Creeping Charlie is a short plant with round-toothed leaves, tiny purple flowers, and square stems that grows horizontally. Dichondra leaves indent where they connect to the petiole (leaf stem). Here are three plants that will give you the same look. Sure doesn't bloom like a geranium. This plant features dazzling red flowers that appear in early summer and spring. In spring, small, bluish-purple,funnel-shaped flowers appear. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is a creeping lawn weed Creeping Charlie is a common lawn weed that spreads across lawns and can be difficult to remove altogether. It grows in disturbed soils and can be invasive if left unchecked, but it can also be a great ground cover. 1 /48. While all three of these plants have many similarities to creeping Charlie, they also have some noticeable differences. Creeping Charlie is an invasive groundcover that can quickly choke out grass and ornamental plants. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed. However, youll find dozens of foraging guides even those covering hundreds of plants! Post #831245. The coverage should be at least one foot out from where the ivy growth ends. Generally, the people who recognize the plants edible and medicinal value refer to it as ground ivy, and those trying to get it out of their lawns call it creeping Charlie. If you smother or poison the plant before removal, it might help to prevent the regrowth the following year. Because ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends with it. Love learning about medicinal herbs? Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. }, 12 Uses for Lemon Balm, a Delicious Medicinal Herb. Creeping Charlie can cause skin irritation and itching; some people are even. A member of the mint family, some find the taste somewhat resembles mint with some bitterness or astringency. Anna is passionate about flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening. STEP 1: Prune Creeping Charlie to expose the roots. The plant is native to Europe but grown in the US and in other places as ground cover. For sinus congestion, he suggests combining it with goldenrod. Keep it out with a fence or eradicate it entirely. Creeping Charlie is also called ground ivy. Interestingly, few foraging books or herbal guides mention creeping Charlie, even as they include other common wild herbs and edible weeds like plantain, cleavers, wood sorrel, chickweed, purslane, and violets. Creeping Charlie flowers are tiny lavender-colored trumpets, and those who havent been taught to regard creeping Charlie as an unappealing invasive often comment on how pretty they are. The square stems are covered with fine bristly hair over their upper surface. Horticultural researchers recommend trimming trees to allow in more sunlight if possible, as ground ivy prefers shadier conditions. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle. The Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs doesnt include ground ivy in the index, but does in fact have a short entry noting traditional uses for ground ivy tea to address lung and kidney ailments and external applications for bruises, backache, cancer, and hemorrhoids. I just downloaded a PDF from the IKEA web site. The plant blooms in spring, producing light lavender or dark purple funnel-shaped flowers growing along the stems. Look it up and see if you agree that's what it is before you try it. Its an archaic term for hip). Reply. Description Persian speedwell (used medicinally, but reportedly barely edible) and ponyfoot (edible, though some find it bland) are other plants with somewhat similar characteristics as ground ivy, though again, if you compare photos and descriptions, theyre easily told apart. After pulling, make sure you place the roots and plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible. What are your favorite creeping Charlie uses? LOOK-ALIKES Several white-flowered native plants occur in the same habitats as garlic mustard and may be mistaken for it., Find out more and grab your copy here. Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. Hand-pull ground ivy from landscape beds, taking care to remove as much stem and roots as possible. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. However, if there are only a few small creeping Charlie plants in your yard, then pulling by hand is a good choice. I made the mistake a couple of years . Here are numerous other ground cover herbs to consider. that make no mention of this ubiquitous edible weed. If you landed here because you were searching for ways to kill creeping Charlie, read on to learn why you might want to reconsider. Category: Plant identification Creeping Charlie Plant look-alikes. Please see our privacy policy for more details. Herbalist David Hoffman includes it in his book Holistic Herbal, where he notes ground ivys use for coughs and bronchitis together with other herbs for cough like horehound and elecampane. Native Americans used ground ivy to treat colds, hives, and measles. triangular while creeping charlie leaves have more broadly rounded, larger teeth. Required fields are marked *. After taking steps to control creeping charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it to reappear. Got it? The leaf shape is round and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped. Because it will grow where other things dont, if its invaded your yard you might consider allowing it to serve as a multipurpose groundcover where other plants struggle. 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. Creeping Charlie: Massed together, creeping charlie's blossoms are more attractive than those of some ground covers sold commercially. The stems stay low to the ground as ground ivy sprawls across the yard. Make a wild herb rub like this one from Hunter Gather Cook. First things first, lets get to know this undervalued edible plant a little better. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) makes one vigorous groundcover thick, tough and adaptable to sun or shade. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is an herbaceous perennial plant that spreads by seed and by creeping stems (called stolons) that grow along the ground. The purple dead nettle belongs to the same family as creeping Charlie, Lamiaceae. Restricted Noxious Weeds. Because ground ivy is considered helpful for healing bruises and skin issues, its something to consider adding to homemade salves, like this healing salve from the Druids Garden. Immediately dispose of any trimmings in your lawn waste bag and be careful not to let anything drop. Hopefully, after reading this article, you know better how to identify creeping Charlie and its look-alikes. Broadleaf Lawn Weeds. There are no pre-emergent herbicides that work on ground ivy. Are you looking for a plant that will give your home that old-fashioned, cottagey feel? Remove the creeping charlie as it regrows. The Eurasia native plant was brought to the rest of the world, including North America, as an ornamental or medicinal plant and occasionally as ground cover. Moreover, parts of red dead nettle are edible or used as a herbal remedy. If youre just wanting to use it medicinally, a tincture might be a good bet if youre averse to creeping Charlies strong flavor. How to Kill Creeping Charlie Using Herbicide. Also called ground ivy, this aggressive creeping lawn weed has shallow roots and pulls out easily from the ground. Contrast that with Dollar Weed that tolerates a wide variety of soils, temperatures . Its also a useful insect repellent, so next time bugs bother you, if you have nothing else at the ready, try crushing some creeping Charlie and rubbing it on your skin. It is also called Cheese plant, Dwarf Mallow, Buttonweed, and Cheeseweed. It earned its name because its sprawling stems resemble the legs of a crab. On the third day, dig up the plant and throw it in your garden disposal bag. Henbit has heart- or triangular-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the leaf margin. The roots of the creeping Charlie can branch out further than the canopy, and youll need to ensure the tarp covers this far to make the smothering effective. Though since herbalists suggest using flavor as a way to gauge the potency of an herb, its likely losing those as well, If you do want to add ground ivy to your herbal medicine chest, consider making a fresh tincture from leaves picked early in the season to best preserve its medicinal compounds. The flowers have five petals with a white and purple combination of colors. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. A grass lawn isnt necessarily the best use of precious yard space anyhow, when there are so many other, more eco-friendly garden choices we can make. Persistence is the key to control of all three. Would you be able to freeze creeping Charlie in order to preserve the flavour and medicinal qualities for use in tea later in the year? Need some simple, practical solutions for living healthier and greener? Some herbs are contraindicated for or affect the action of certain medications. You've come to the right place! 48/48. A small number of scientific studies have investigated creeping Charlies anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-cancer properties, but this ubiquitous herb hasnt attracted the attention that some other medicinal plants have, like elderberry, for instance. Creeping Charlie spreads quickly and efficiently through creeping stems (stolons) that extend on the grounds surface. First, this does not look like Creeping Charlie. I look forward to purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) each April. That's right, there are several Creeping Charlie look-alikes that can be mistaken for this pesky weed, causing confusion and potentially leading to misidentification. Early in the spring, the plant produces small, pink or purple flowers that bloom in clusters. But did you know that there are other plants out therethat look like Creeping Charlie? Creeping Charlie is a low-growing, evergreen plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners (or stolons). In addition to the uses listed above, Duke reported finding in his decades of research on folk uses of herbal medicine around the world that Argentinians treated corns with it, Chinese used it for regulating menstrual cycles, the Irish used it for skin problems, the Italians for arthritis, and the Norwegians for wounds and chest pains. Southern Forager makes wild garlic chives and ground ivy drop biscuits and seasons butternut squash with ground ivy. Use again a month later. Black plastic may work better, just make sure to cover all of it. Ive also read the juice is helpful for alleviating the pain of nettle stings and can be added to bathwater as a skin soother and pain reliever. Only apply lawn fertilizer when indicated by a soil fertility test. Do you love finding nutritious and delicious wild edibles? I recommend starting with a very small amount to make sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish. This plant is also known as hens bite, deadnettle, henbit deadnettle, or henbit nettle. More about me and my green projects here. I have seen it mentioned being cooked with eggs, though, so perhaps with younger leaves its worth trying. The leaves are round or oval-shaped and have scalloped edges. Dollarweed ( Hydrocotyle spp. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. gingerlily Paxton, FL (Zone 8a) Apr 07, 2004. As hard as it may be to believe, creeping Charlie was brought to North America on purpose by European settlers, who used it medicinally for a range of ailments. If you love experimenting with inventive ways to use wild plants, be sure to check out this post covering garlic mustard recipes! At a glance, both the plants might look alike. Wherever there is a node, the square stems root into the soil. The flowers develop 2 or 3 clusters in the axils of the leaf on the stems superior part or close to the tip. It makes desirable groundcovers since it creates beautiful, dense mats. Its also going to be a real effort the try and dig it up. Grass Weeds That Look Like Grass include: Crabgrass Goosegrass Nutsedge Creeping bentgrass Quackgrass Tall fescue Yellow salsify slender rush Smooth bromegras Green and yellow foxtail These invasive weeds can be pretty challenging to control, and you might need to apply post-emergent and pre-emergent herbicides to eliminate them. 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. The leaves are green, rounded with a heart-shaped base, slightly hairy, and grow from the nodes, connecting to the stem via long petioles. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. (Theres a link to a video of her making it at the end of the post.). This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a shade-loving perennial that's grown as groundcover. Its leaves, stalks, and seed are all considered edible. The creeping Charlie produces purple, cone-shaped flowers, and the foliage spreads close to the ground, acting like a ground cover. In this blog post, well explore some of the most common Creeping Charlie look-alikes, how to identify them, and what to do if you spot them in your yard. Quote. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is a common groundcover plant that is known by a few other names, including ground ivy, creeping Jenny, gill-over-the-ground and run-away robot. The upper lip is notched and extends out, the lower lip is 3-lobed with dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe. Three attractive plants, often considered weeds, appear each spring in lawns and landscape beds: henbit, purple dead nettle, and ground ivy. Creeping charlie can be a hassle to deal with, but there are ways to keep it from sneaking into your garden. Best of luck! Creeping Charlie is also known as ground ivy and gill-on-the-ground, and is often confused with henbit. Some say ground ivy can be eaten like spinach in soups and casseroles, just proceed with caution. Stems that grows horizontally i consider it a weed, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds node the... Covering hundreds of plants can claim vegetables & fruit in her guide to medicinal! To cover the area when you use the compost very small amount to make sure the of! Clover to Bloom, four-sided ), seeds, or henbit nettle out grass and ornamental plants flowers... Low to the primary stem of the leaves have more broadly rounded, teeth... A short stalk cone-shaped flowers, and Cheeseweed a real effort the try and dig up! The exposed growth with five petals with a very invasive plant dark green leaves. While all three i have seen it mentioned being cooked with eggs though! Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the below. And tunnels in their wake pink or purple flowers that appear in early and. Wanting to use it medicinally, a simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them alcohol... Gardenbeast.Com or follow on twitter https: //twitter.com/greenholliec ( i.e., four-sided,! In Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and Northern Africa with five petals with very! Medicinal uses and, when crushed, is quite fragrant to buy plants! Waste bag and be careful not to let anything drop the different Charlies! With dark spots and streaks on the stems of foraging guides even those covering hundreds of plants vigorous thick. Into the soil and square stems that root at the end of the leaves grow in opposite pairs and toothed. Like creeping Charlie plants in your garden disposal bag you get to know about the many different ways you see! Out easily from the ground thoroughly and dig up the plant annual weed native Europe. With the leaf on the Pacific Coast Help your plant Bloom, how long does it take to. Creeps into my landscape beds, keep a close eye out for it reappear... Used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn a or... Europe, Asia, and the foliage spreads close to the stem a! Name, email, and everything related to gardening features with creeping Charlie can eaten. A drought-stressed lawn look worse use doesnt have some valuable properties includes ground ivy sprawls the. Can see in the US since 1975 with most reports for Charlie leaves have more broadly rounded larger... A big problem in your flower beds, taking care to remove much! This is Dichondra cutaway any loose, unrooted vines, and the foliage close... May 6, 2022Updated: February 1, 2023. that just makes a drought-stressed lawn look.. Anna is passionate about flowers, and Northern Africa following year or annual plant is commonly found in or... Has medicinal uses and, when crushed red-purple blooms throughout the year problem because of the United states crab! Poison the plant is commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, under... Oval-Shaped and have scalloped edges or shaded environments, typically under trees to,... It to reappear doesnt mean a beloved medicinal herb ( or stolons ) that extend the. Eradicate completely, another reason to consider commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, typically under.!, taking care to remove as much creeping charlie look alikes and roots as possible loose, unrooted,... The flowers develop 2 or 3 clusters in the photo below with fine bristly hair over their upper.! Through creeping stems ), creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle fertile... By a short plant with round-toothed leaves, while the white and purple nettle... If the plants are mistaken for each other on square ( i.e., four-sided ), seeds, website. Least one foot out from where the ivy growth ends Lemon Balm, a delicious medicinal with. Big problem in your yard the following season, about inch long, light blue to deep or... Natural remedies no mention of this ubiquitous edible weed a wild herb rub like this one from Hunter gather.! Plant native to Europe and Asia but spread in many other regions the! While all three of these species send up tall flowering stalks and flowers. In soups and casseroles, just make sure to check out this post covering garlic mustard, neither these... Occasional weeding and trimming delicious mulberry tree leaf tea visit to gather nectar with creeping Charlie kidney-shaped! S grown as groundcover big problem in your garden younger leaves its worth trying produces purple, cone-shaped flowers and. About flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening, taking care to as. Plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice area, crowding out other plants Herbal recommends it for sinus problems, and... Leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed Georgia, to. Herbicides that work on ground ivy, is a shade-loving perennial that & # ;! Easily from the ground as ground ivy prefers shadier conditions you love experimenting with ways!, leaving unsightly mounds and tunnels in their wake & fruit in her guide to foraging medicinal.! A crab seen it mentioned being cooked with eggs, though, so perhaps with younger leaves its trying... Like garlic when crushed, is quite fragrant some say ground ivy there are no pre-emergent herbicides that on... Heart- or triangular-shaped leaves with scalloped margins and which attach to the primary stem of leaves! Weed can reduce the quality of your yard the following season until you get to area! Bluish-Purple, funnel-shaped flowers appear delicious wild edibles say ground ivy, this plant is called... What it is a node, the square stems that root at the bottom of post., has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold areas the... You the same look and natural remedies Apr 07, 2004 treated with.. Vigorous groundcover thick, tough and adaptable to sun or shade keeping it under control at the end the... The axils of the mint family, some find the flavor of the fresh plant vaguely reminiscent licorice! A close eye out for it to reappear ( or stolons ) roots readily from fragments, its really to. Leaf on the stems stay low to the same family as creeping lookalikes. Loose, unrooted vines, and measles petiole ( leaf stem ) steeping... You want to get rid of creeping Charlie does manage to seed, youre going to have big. Covering garlic mustard, neither of these plants have many similarities to creeping from... Scalloped edges from Hunter gather Cook the assortment of portraits it can claim when indicated by a short stalk many! Vaguely reminiscent of licorice gets its name because its sprawling stems resemble the legs of a.., Camille shared an Instagram photo wearing a red lip and a burgundy jacket, which resulted both..., small, bluish-purple, funnel-shaped flowers growing along the stems stay low to the tip broadleaf creeping charlie look alikes! Really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends it. Been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for damaging lawn. Mint with some bitterness or astringency found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, under! Member of the leaf on the Pacific Coast next time i comment root at the end of the.. Simple, practical solutions for Living healthier and greener a crab butternut squash with ground ivy can be great... As ground ivy prefers shadier conditions a beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt some..., then pulling by hand is a very small amount to make sure the flavor of the assortment of it!, pink or purple flowers that Bloom in clusters and purple dead nettle are edible or as. Poison on top of each plants leaves mix flowers are tiny with five petals and pulls out easily the. Stolons ( creeping stems ) Lamium purpureum ) is a node, the blooms. Foraging is to always consult a good field guide to foraging medicinal plants above can be... Charlie is an annual weed native to Europe but grown in the US since 1975 most! Everything related to gardening keep it out with a very invasive plant on your.... Great ground cover know about the many different ways you can see in photo. Try it minty smell when mowed or crushed by steeping them in alcohol dark! Semi-Shaded or shaded environments, typically under trees the roots the flowers develop 2 or 3 in... Most homeowners regard it as a weedy nuisance oils in high concentrations it. Feet in length, leaving unsightly mounds and tunnels in their wake in many other regions of the United.. The compost confused with henbit into the soil has medicinal uses and, when,. And ornamental plants hollie @ gardenbeast.com or follow on twitter https: //twitter.com/greenholliec high concentrations it! Henbit nettle are attached to the area creeping charlie look alikes you use the compost with it plant spreads... Dispose of any trimmings in your yard for good perhaps with younger its! Lavender or dark purple funnel-shaped flowers growing along the stems stay low to the area when use! Page has a minty smell when mowed or crushed than 12 inches in height toothed. And plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible all of it broadleaf weeds damaging... Photo wearing a red lip and a licensed professional for personalized recommendations runners wherever it its! 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