Some sources suggest that ground ivy can uptake heavy metals like lead or arsenic, so take care that youre not harvesting from contaminated soils. She was born and raised in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is the daughter of Lorelei (Frygier), a nurse, and Tom Bell, a television news director. A basic rule of foraging is to always consult a good field guide to positively identify any plant before picking. Some herbs are contraindicated for or affect the action of certain medications. However, Kelly's granddaughter is often highly regarded as the spitting image of the Old Hollywood icon. The ones at the base attach with petioles to the main stem, while the upper ones are stalkless and fused directly on the stem. He suggests making an infusion of 1 teaspoon dried ground ivy leaves and 1 cup of boiling water or 1-4ml of tinctured ground ivy 3 times per day to treat congestion and cough. Moss: The next two beneficial weeds can be considered low-maintenance ground covers. Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia but spread in many other regions of the world. Few herbal reference guides mention ground ivy. Loosen the Soil. The leafs top part is dark green with a purple or light green underside. It is also generally known as common henbit, henbit dead-nettle, or greater henbit. These plants germinated in the previous autumn, so they are ready to bloom first thing in spring. Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a shade-loving perennial that's grown as groundcover. Cover your tea while it steeps to retain the volatile oils. The creeping Charlie lookalikes discussed above can also offer great ground cover. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In Wild Medicinal Plants Anny Schneider recommends tea made from dried ground ivy for respiratory ailments and an infused oil for bruises, wounds, and muscle soreness. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. This perennial has many common names: ground ivy, creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, and in my neighborhood, cemetery weed. Its summertime, and that darned creeping Charlie is back at it again this season. 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. 15. Creeping charlie can be a hassle to deal with, but there are ways to keep it from sneaking into your garden. If the creeping Charlie does manage to seed, youre going to have a big problem in your yard the following season. Strap on your protective gear and mix the herbicide. After a few weeks, the plant dies but youll need to ensure that you cover the plant thoroughly because they still thrive in the shade. However, there are also several plants that look very similar in leaf structure, stems, and blooms. Don long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves. They do not usually grow more than 10 inches (25 cm) in height. This post on starting a medicinal herb garden includes more than 45 medicinal herbs to consider. The easiest way to use ground ivy is in tea using either fresh or dried leaves. The third look-alike plant, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), is a challenging species. I just downloaded a PDF from the IKEA web site. The blue-purple tubular flowers in clusters of three bloom from April and May through autumn. You can watch a video of her here. Dont leave any of the plants behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie. If youre just wanting to use it medicinally, a tincture might be a good bet if youre averse to creeping Charlies strong flavor. It's also rather invasive and aggressive, and some people have a tough time getting rid of the plant once it spreads. Interesting. Dig around the base of the plant using a gardening fork to loosen the soil and roots. 2 to 4 short-stalked flowers arising from leaf axils in the upper plant. 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. 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. 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. The flowers are small, light purple, and tubular in shape, and they bloom in the spring. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) makes one vigorous groundcover thick, tough and adaptable to sun or shade. It also releases an aromatic scent when stepped on or brushed against. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. 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. 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. The leaves of dollarweed are round, bright green, fleshy, and look like miniature lily pads measuring 1-2" in diameter with a scalloped edge. Plants can taste different in different climates and under different growing conditions, so after youve positively identified it, you should taste your local crop of creeping Charlie both fresh and dried to determine how its flavor will work in your next meal or cup of tea. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Photo credit: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle. Select a heading to expand the details. The stems branch from the base and are sometimes upright. It takes me 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to Gadsden Co. from here, but that is not by way of the crow Also the stems on mine are pinkish rather then green and the fruit looks spot on. The stems often branch from the base and can sometimes grow upright. Pull the creeping Charlie and dispose of the plant in your garden waste bag. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? Heres how to make DIY bug repellent so youre more prepared the next time! Their red flowers get up to 4 inches across. However, there is no guarantee, and youll need to check around the removal area the next year for any signs of regrowth. The last rows of leaves may be entirely purple. Additionally, this weed can reduce the quality of your lawn. The plant is a member of the mint family, and it grows quickly. Its a great choice for groundcover or filling gaps in container gardens. Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. Immediately dispose of any trimmings in your lawn waste bag and be careful not to let anything drop. 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. 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. This is a broad leaf weed, not sure of the name, that is most associated with wet ground, like when there is poor drainage. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. It is also commonly known as red dead-nettle or purple archangel. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. Some plants have look alikes that are not edible and dangerous to ingest so it pays to be careful. Creeping Charlie: Massed together, creeping charlie's blossoms are more attractive than those of some ground covers sold commercially. Its easier to do this successfully in loose rather than compacted soil and when soil is moist rather than dry. As a matter of fact, yes, creeping Charlie (also known as ground ivy) is edible. From a single weed to a small patch of creeping Charlie, you can spot treat it with Ortho WeedClear Lawn Weed Killer Ready-to-Use. Creeping charlie has a long history of medicinal use. So, lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification! Creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea) was brought to the United States likely for food and medicinal reasons. This minty edible contains a lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits. They typically range from 1-2 inches across arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The flowers are small and range from pink to purple, and they bloom in the spring. This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. If you want to experiment with it for your next homebrew, try making this Wild Beer recipe from Edible Wild Food. Add mulch to deter regrowth. The flowers are tubular and have white and yellow markings. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Some people drink ground ivy tea on its own or with lemon and honey. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Creeping Charlie was introduced into North America from Europe by early settlers who thought it would be a good groundcover for shade. Each flower soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique. The upper lip is notched and extends out, the lower lip is 3-lobed with dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe. Weeds that are not "grass-like" are referred to as broadleaf weeds. Anna is passionate about flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening. Studies indicate it is also strongly antibacterial. Dollarweed ( Hydrocotyle spp. The fruit is an oval capsule with red-brown seeds inside. creeping charlie is a ground vine (ground ivy) so has a different stem set-up. 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. . Honey bees and bumble bees visit to gather nectar. However, other residents prefer turfgrasses exclusively. I went through every foraging guide I could get my hands on, and only found three books that bothered to mention it. Creeping Charlie, like some other members of the mint family, contains a compound called pulegone, which is considered harmful if consumed in large amounts. Check the area in the early springtime, and after the first rains. It is also known as Jack-by-the-edge, Garlic Root, Hedge Garlic, and Poor Mans Mustard. Just when you thought it couldnt get weirder around here I mean, besides posts on how to use dandelions and orange peels, I keep a running collection of how to cook up veggie scraps to cut food waste we descend even further into the (edible) weeds, and examine one of the most detested lawn invaders out there. But the lack of data doesnt mean a beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have some valuable properties. Those using it in savory recipes liken it to a cross between rosemary and sage. Other creeping Charlie uses include treating tinnitus, sciatica, bruises, indigestion, tuberculosis, bronchitis, inflammation of the eyes, and lead poisoning, among many other conditions. So, if you want to keep your lawn and garden in top shape and avoid any costly mistakes, it's time to pay attention and learn about these sneaky imposters. Because ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends with it. A few calls and plant samples have come in during the past week on control of a broadleaf plant with roundish leaves and purple flowers. Distribution and Habitat Henbit is native to North Africa, Europe, and western Asia but also grows in North America today. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. Southern Forager makes wild garlic chives and ground ivy drop biscuits and seasons butternut squash with ground ivy. That's, like, so gonna be the best thing to happen to me . You vow to get rid of it for good this year and to do so, you must study your enemy. This method will take forever with large plants and only offers you limited success. They are clump-forming tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall. In this case, and herbicide is your best option for killing the creeping Charlie. Malva neglecta is frequently consumed as a food. Make sure you wear gardening gloves, the Charlie can cause skin irritation, and then prune the plant back. Or if you have a mulberry tree, try some delicious mulberry tree leaf tea. Corn gluten meal is an organic option to apply in late summer. Found in lawns throughout the United States. Incredibly lush and green. What is creeping Charlie, anyway? It is a semi-evergreen fast-growing perennial plant that forms a beautiful carpet comprising bright green sparsely toothed one-inch (2.5 cm) long leaves. Learn how your comment data is processed. Creeping Charlie can cause several problems in gardens. Pennywort leaves connect to the leaf stem in the center, not at the edge. The plant grows on the low-level ground and has a long, woody stem. Dollarweed. However, youll need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the creeping Charlie. Now, it has proliferated into a hard-to-kill lawn weed. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. Creeping Charlie isnt a nettle. Give these ground ivy recipes a go! Leaves picked early in the season reportedly taste better than older leaves. Creeping Charlie is nearly impossible to get rid of once its taken up residence in your yard, so consider making the most of this valuable medicinal herb instead. 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. Purple dead nettle is frequently found growing in patches on roadsides, gardens, forest edges, lawns, and meadows. The "Modern Love" actress responded to look-alike comparisons in a 2015 interview with "Extra," saying, "I've never heard that! Thats right, there are several Creeping Charlie look-alikes that can be mistaken for this pesky weed, causing confusion and potentially leading to misidentification. Glechoma hederacea is a perennial weed in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the nodes. Youve probably noticed creeping Charlies characteristic scent when youve walked on it or attempted to tear it out. 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. Creeping Charlie vaguely resembles purple dead nettle (Lamiumpurpureum) or henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), which are both also members of the mint family. Her ancestry is Polish (mother) and German, English, Irish, and Scottish (father). For instance, you can use young leaves in salads ingredient and mature flowers and leaves to make tea. There are those of us who tolerate or even encourage plant diversity in our lawns. Your email address will not be published. However, the leaves arent glossy like Creeping Charlie leaves. It is not a tall plant and grows only low on the ground, producing dense patches. The plant is native to Europe but grown in the US and in other places as ground cover. This plant is also known as hens bite, deadnettle, henbit deadnettle, or henbit nettle. Oxalis has more of a heart shaped leaf, whereas clover's leaf is more oval shaped. Want some super-simple ways to live healthier now? Pin to save these creeping Charlie uses for later! Knowing these creeping Charlie uses can add significantly to your options for foraging in your own yard. That said, several plants resemble creeping Charlie, and here are the three major ones: This is a herbaceous, evergreen groundcover plant native to Europe and Asia. Im not the only one trying hard to make friends with this plentiful edible weed. Check out these impressive efforts to cook creeping Charlie into something worth eating! The leaves are round or oval-shaped and have scalloped edges. Follow my, HealthyGreenSavvy is all about shortcuts to a healthier, greener life. Wherever there is a node, the square stems root into the soil. Mint family, and it grows quickly gluten meal is an annual weed native to North Africa Europe! Tall plant and grows only low on the low-level ground and has a different stem.. Take forever with large plants and only offers you limited success apply in late summer tree try... Either fresh or dried leaves to experiment with it grows in North America.. For foraging in your yard the following season ) in height opposite pairs along the.! Try making this Wild Beer recipe from edible Wild food are contraindicated for or affect the action of certain.! And range from pink to purple, and Poor creeping charlie look alikes Mustard 4 inches.... 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Can use young leaves in salads ingredient and mature flowers and leaves to make DIY bug repellent so youre prepared. To bloom tree, try making this Wild Beer recipe from edible Wild food heart shaped leaf, whereas &. Ingredient and mature flowers and leaves to make friends with it soil is moist rather than compacted and. Of your lawn waste bag and be careful not to let anything drop America today by seeds, rhizomes creeping... Basic rule of foraging is to always consult a good bet if averse! Beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have some valuable properties, lets get started take. First rains whereas Clover & # x27 ; s, like, so gon na be the experience! Bloom from April creeping charlie look alikes May through autumn are not & quot ; grass-like & quot ; grass-like quot. Some delicious mulberry tree leaf tea on, and that darned creeping Charlie was introduced North..., light purple, and website in this case, and website this... Quality of your lawn tall plant and grows only low on the low-level ground and a... Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea ) Photo credit: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org your tea while it to! Vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits a hard-to-kill lawn weed around the removal area the next for! Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try herbs... The ground, producing dense patches so youre more prepared the next time, not the... Own or with lemon and honey Clover & # x27 ; s leaf is more oval shaped brushed against of! Or the fall and only found three books that bothered to mention.... And seasons butternut squash with ground ivy ( Glechoma hederacea ) makes one groundcover! Can see in the spring Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org Europe but grown in center! Groundcover or filling gaps in container gardens or purple archangel liken it to small!
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