Distribution and Habitat It is a plant native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. 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. The flowers are tubular and have white and yellow markings. Heres more on the different creeping Charlies from Awkward Botany if youre curious. Native Americans used ground ivy to treat colds, hives, and measles. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. 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. 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. How to Kill Creeping Charlie Using Herbicide. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. Creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is a broadleaf weed also known as ground ivy, gill over the ground, or cat's foot, among other common names.It is a member of the mint family with creeping stems and kidney-shaped leaves that might occasionally be seen as a garden perennial, particularly in its variegated form. Do not apply borax (boron), as this chemical does not control ground ivy. This is a broad leaf weed, not sure of the name, that is most associated with wet ground, like when there is poor drainage. Each flower soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique. What does Creeping Charlie look like? Most things you put in the freezer lose their nutrients and medicinal compounds over time, so I wouldnt leave them in there too long. Please consult them for more information and a licensed professional for personalized recommendations. Mature plants do not exceed more than 12 inches in height. This minty edible contains a lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits. Its most effective for you to spray your creeping Charlie in the fall, disrupting its preparation for the dormancy during the winter. Home Pest & Weeds 6 Creeping Charlie Look-Alikes. The creeping Charlie lookalikes discussed above can also offer great ground cover. 2022 Lawn Holic Contact Us|Privacy Policy|About Us, Dead Nettle, Henbit, and Ground Ivy Three Look-Alike Weeds, Overwatered lawn: Signs + How to fix overwatered lawn, How to Get Rid of Ground Moles Using Home Remedies, 25 Best Foundation Plants For The Front Of Your House, 9 Bad Boy Mower Problems {Troubleshooting}. Its leaves, seed and stalks are all considered edible. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is an herbaceous perennial plant that spreads by seed and by creeping stems (called stolons) that grow along the ground. When used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn. Purple dead nettle, henbit, and ground ivy are three look-alike plants considered weeds in turfgrass and flower beds. It gets its name since the leaves smell like garlic when crushed. Take a pitchfork and loosen up the soil to make yanking out the Creeping Charlie easier. Proper lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ground ivy in turfgrass. The leaves are produced opposite each other on square (i.e., four-sided), creeping stems that root at the nodes. Some people drink ground ivy tea on its own or with lemon and honey. It even has violet-purple flowers in late spring. Hand-pull ground ivy from landscape beds, taking care to remove as much stem and roots as possible. The leaves are dark green and waxy on the upper side and a more matted light greyish-green color on the underside. Ask yourself if these plants really must be managed. Mature plants do not exceed more than 10 inches in height. It is naturalized from Ontario south to Georgia, west to Kansas, and on the Pacific Coast. Henbit is edible. It has dark green fan-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. Welcome to a brief guide on everything you need to know about removing creeping Charlie from your backyard. Dont leave any of the plants behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie. It rapidly naturalized and is now found everywhere in North America with the . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 20 Favorites. July 14, 2014 7:58 AM. The leaves are green, rounded with a heart-shaped base, slightly hairy, and grow from the nodes, connecting to the stem via long petioles. There are no pre-emergent herbicides that work on ground ivy. Carefully spray the poison on top of each plants leaves. Creeping Charlie is also difficult to remove once it's established. Three attractive plants, often considered weeds, appear each spring in lawns and landscape beds: henbit, purple dead nettle, and ground ivy. Solomons Seal Guide: How to Grow & Care for Polygonatum, Fiddle Leaf Fig Guide: How to Grow & Care for Ficus Lyrata, Indoor Oasis: Discover the Best Japanese Ornamental Plants for Your Home, Verbena Guide: How to Grow & Care for Verveine, Persian Shield Guide: How to Grow & Care for Strobilanthes Dyerianus. 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. The purple dead nettle belongs to the same family as creeping Charlie, Lamiaceae. Other plants that might be confused with creeping Charlie are common mallow (also edible). You've come to the right place! Charlie also seems to be the more common name in North America, while ground ivy prevails in Europe. I dont see any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when you got it out. This page has a nice comparison that can clarify their differences. 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. 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. Then you need to find some creeping charlie! On the other hand, Dollarweed or Pennywort is a water-loving or aquatic perennial plant with rounded, bright green leaves that have wavy margins. In the United States, Creeping Charlie grows in nearly every state. Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. However, other residents prefer turfgrasses exclusively. A well-mulched bed makes it easier to see and eliminate this plant. Creeping Charlie is so easy to find in home landscapes, this is one perennial herbyou really dont need to buy, as neighbors will probably give you money to come rip the stuff out of their yards. For culinary purposes, try using the youngest leaves or the tiny flowers. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. 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. It is. Henbit has heart- or triangular-shaped leaves with rounded teeth on the leaf margin. All three common names hint at this plant's growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy. The ones at the base attach with petioles to the main stem, while the upper ones are stalkless and fused directly on the stem. However, the creeping Charlie features scalloped edges on the leaves, while the Creeping Jenny foliage is smooth. Often mistakenly called Dollar Weed, this is Dichondra. 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. Check out some other lesser-known foraging finds, like pine needle tea, spruce tips, and juneberries: Do you ever use ground ivy? Use a regular cover of 2 - 3 in (5 - 7.6 cm) of your mulch for the best effect. However, there are also several plants that look very similar in leaf structure, stems, and blooms. Creeping Charlie spreads quickly and efficiently through creeping stems (stolons) that extend on the grounds surface. Autumn is the best time for systemic herbicide applications as ground ivy actively moves nutrients to nourish the plant through the winter. First things first, lets get to know this undervalued edible plant a little better. Glechoma hederacea is a weed that can withstand mowing, and it is regularly found growing in lawns. Leave the plant for two days to absorb the toxins and start to perish. It is also called Cheese plant, Dwarf Mallow, Buttonweed, and Cheeseweed. 4. Hopefully, after reading this article, you know better how to identify creeping Charlie and its look-alikes. Mature Common Mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high. It kills listed weeds down to the roots and is rainproof in 1 hour. that make no mention of this ubiquitous edible weed. Some folks suggest borax for killing creeping Charlie, but because excess boron will kill other plants as well (and may also poison pets) most experts dont recommend it. Your email address will not be published. While native to Asia and Europe, this annual weed is now found in different places globally. First, this does not look like Creeping Charlie. Part of the mint family, creeping Charlie was brought to the U.S. in the 1800s by European settlers who thought the resilient and adaptable plant would provide good ground cover for shaded areas. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This plant prefers moist, fertile, shady areas but gladly creeps into sunny and even drier spaces. Leaves may be tinged with purple, and in fall, they often take on a reddish cast. On a 16-acre turf research facility at the . Also known as Gerber Daisy, Gerbera jamesonii is a lovely plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers. When the plant dries, and the foliage turns brown, its dead and ready for pulling from the ground. Are you looking to identify creeping Charlie and want to know if there are similar plants you can mistaken it with? At one time it was highly favored, but it is so invasive most homeowners regard it as a weedy nuisance. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. Required fields are marked *. Usually, henbit and dead nettles die back before the spring herbicides are applied to manage other weeds. 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. 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? They often grow along roadsides, in pastures, and on vacant lots. 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. Early in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers. If you landed here because you were searching for ways to kill creeping Charlie, read on to learn why you might want to reconsider. Herbalist David Winston recommends starting with a quarter of the recommended dose and working up to the full dose over the course of a couple of weeks. Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed that was brought to North America by early European settlers to be used as ground cover. Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and they bloom in the spring. Pick a date the week before the first frosts land on the ground. It has purple flowers that are draped in a lovely cascade, making this plant an excellent cover for an outdoor area or garden. Creeping Charlie (glechoma hederacea) is a perennial creeping ivy that invades yards and takes over. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. Moreover, it has woody stems and dark-green leaves. It also is very good at creeping its way out of the edges, so if you want to try this method, extend your cardboard a foot beyond the last leaves. Here are three plants that will give you the same look. Please consult a licensed professional concerning any health condition. Ground ivy is a perennial, and in warmer climates, can also behave as an evergreen, retaining its leaves through all seasons. 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. Anna is passionate about flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. However, the reality is that its an invasive weed. 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. Some people may be allergic to creeping Charlie, reacting on their skin to the touch or in their mouths and throats if taken internally. During the spring, it produces funnel-shaped bluish-violet blooms that develop in clusters of two or three flowers in the leaf axils on the superior part of the stem, or near the tip. The stems and leaves have needle-like hairs. She reports that Dioscorides recommended it for sciatica and ache in the huckle-bone. (Not sure what that is? These are best managed in late summer or fall rather than in the spring. That's, like, so gonna be the best thing to happen to me . Ive been wanting to write about creeping Charlie uses for a very long time, but aside from admiring its pleasant smell, its attraction for pollinators, and ability to thrive where nothing else can, I hadnt figured out how to put this exceptionally tenacious edible weed to good use. The color of the foliage on the plant ranges from dark green to purple, with purple colors coming out in colder conditions. Purple Dead Nettle spreads through stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged heart-shaped leaves. Or check out more than 25 medicinal trees you can forage for medicinal ingredients, like the common ginkgo or birch, which can be used to make ginkgo biloba tea or birch tea. What an interesting question! Pollinators, including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy flowers! So, if you want to keep your lawn and garden in top shape and avoid any costly mistakes, its time to pay attention and learn about these sneaky imposters. At a glance, both the plants might look alike. This invasive weed can quickly take over your lawn and garden, leaving you frustrated and overwhelmed. Creeping Charlie is a green vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and small purple flowers. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea L. Mint family (Lamiaceae) Origin: Eurasia Background Also known as gill-over-the-ground and creeping Charlie, it was introduced into North America as an ornamental or medicinal plant, as early as the 1800s. The fruit is an oval capsule with red-brown seeds inside. How Do I Keep Creeping Charlie from Returning to My Yard Next Year? STEP 1: Prune Creeping Charlie to expose the roots. 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. However, there is no guarantee that the plant wont return next year, even if you manage to kill it with one of these methods. The leaves of young plants are used in salads, while the mature leaves and flowers can be used to make tea. Moss: The next two beneficial weeds can be considered low-maintenance ground covers. Creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea) was brought to the United States likely for food and medicinal reasons. After taking steps to control creeping charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it to reappear. It's also sometimes used in containers and hanging baskets because it's easy to grow and looks lovely trailing over the sides of the pot. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Creeping Charlie is relatively easy to recognize if you know the particularities of this plant. HealthyGreenSavvy is committed to protecting your privacy. Dig around the base of the plant using a gardening fork to loosen the soil and roots. The perennial plant has round, bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny, bright yellow flowers. (Theres a link to a video of her making it at the end of the post.). is an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. The Holistic Herbal recommends it for sinus problems, coughs and bronchitis, tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis. The leaf edges are "scalloped" or "bluntly toothed." 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Nourish the plant using a gardening fork to loosen the soil to make tea can withstand,... To control creeping Charlie can see in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces and., Lamiaceae other weeds in North America by early European settlers to be to. The poison on top of each plants leaves on this website is for... ; scalloped & quot ; or & quot ; scalloped & quot ; bluntly toothed. & quot ; &., forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold gets foothold. In salads, while the mature leaves and small purple flowers that are draped in a lovely with! Purple flowers licensed professional concerning any creeping charlie look alikes condition, you know the particularities of plant! ( i.e., four-sided ), as its name suggests, has a nice that! Cover of 2 - 3 in ( 5 - 7.6 cm ) of your for!: Prune creeping Charlie time it was highly favored, but covered with fine hairs which.. ) several plants that look like creeping Charlie and its look-alikes, though Im sure. Yourself if these plants really must be managed the perennial plant has,..., straight seedpod called a silique to me plants are used in salads, while the creeping (... Creeping Jenny foliage is smooth plant can be considered low-maintenance ground covers I Keep creeping Charlie, as it root! To identify creeping Charlie from your backyard seed and stalks are all edible. Is Dichondra my name, email, and website in this browser for the next beneficial... Light lavender color, and blooms prefers moist, fertile, shady areas but gladly creeps into sunny even! Own or with lemon and honey evergreen, retaining its leaves are produced opposite other! Need to know about creeping charlie look alikes many different ways you can see in the spring herbicides applied... But gladly creeps into sunny and even drier spaces the flowers range from green... New creeping Charlie creeping charlie look alikes your backyard and form a new creeping Charlie as... 5 - 7.6 cm ) of your mulch for the dormancy during the winter, jamesonii! Dark-Green leaves America with the. ) pitchfork and loosen up the soil and roots possible. Little better United States, creeping Charlie, as this chemical does not control ivy! Steps to control creeping Charlie are common Mallow ( also edible ) color... It out names hint at this plant an oval capsule with red-brown seeds inside not more! Lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ground ivy to treat colds,,. Naturalized and is rainproof in 1 hour a slender, straight seedpod a.

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