Ground ivy: lawn weed or medicinal herb?

It is time to stop thinking of ground ivy as a weed. Here, we will explain how to use the herb decoratively as well as what health benefits it offers in the kitchen.

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is often dismissed as an undesirable weed because of its fast growth and rapid spread. But you can make the most of the plant’s properties by growing it on the balcony as a green ornamental plant in winter or brewing a ground ivy tea.

Ground ivy: origin and characteristics

Ground ivy is originally from Europe, but it has since spread across the temperate latitudes in Asia, North America and New Zealand. The plant, which belongs to the Lamiaceae family, is also known as creeping charlie and alehoof. It is an evergreen perennial and grows in almost any type of soil, provided it is moist enough.

You can recognise ground ivy by its creeping rooting stem and upright shoots that can grow up to 20 cm tall. The round leaves are slightly notched at the edge and arranged in pairs. The calyxes grow up to 7 mm long and are usually blue-violet in colour, and sometimes even pink and white. Its flowers appear from about April to July and offer plenty of nectar, which makes the plant particularly bee-friendly.

Confusing ground ivy: The herb is easily distinguishable from most other plants. However, bugle (Ajuga reptans), which has a smaller and more delicate growth and shiny leaves, can be mistaken for ground ivy. These plants can be most clearly distinguished by their flowering times: bugle only flowers from April to May, a much shorter period than ground ivy.

Where and how to grow ground ivy

Growing locations for the plant are varied and range from deciduous woods to edges of fields and home gardens. Ground ivy feels most at home in a sunny to partly sunny location. An ideal soil is humus-rich, nutritious, calcareous and sufficiently moist. The plant also tolerates light shade.

The seeds can be sown directly into the bed or planter between September and October. To do this, sprinkle the creeping charlie seeds over a broad area, cover lightly with soil, water with a fine spray and keep moist until germination. For cultivation in pots, as well as for pre-cultivation of ground ivy, we recommend using a high-quality potting soil. To improve drainage, add expanded clay or coarse gravel to the soil. Our Plantura Organic All Purpose Compost is great for conserving moisture thanks to its high content of coconut and wood fibres. It also contains all the nutrients needed for healthy germination and growth of your ground ivy.

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Alternatively, ground ivy can be pre-cultivated between January and mid-March and then planted outside in spring. If the creeping charlie plant is already growing in your garden, you can propagate it by division. Simply use a sharp spade to cut off a small section of plant with its roots and place them in water until they form new roots. Once the shoots have formed sufficient roots, they can be planted outside. For dense growth, we suggest spacing the plants about 20 cm apart.

Tip: The variety Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’ with white variegated leaves makes an excellent wintergreen ornamental plant on the balcony. Ground ivy is also ideal as a hanging plant.

Plant care

Care is uncomplicated. In the garden bed, it only needs a little water to get it through dry periods. The soil should always be slightly moist: water when necessary. Ground ivy growing in pots often requires a bit more watering so that the plant does not dry out.

For long-term healthy growth, a regular supply of nutrients is necessary. Especially in a pot, it is worth fertilising ground ivy twice a year with a slow-release fertiliser. Our Plantura All Purpose Plant Food is suitable, providing the plant with all important nutrients and promoting an active soil life thanks to its high content of organic matter. This also cuts down on how often you need to repot, because the planting soil is kept fertile. Fertiliser from natural raw materials also saves resources during production and protects the environment.

Further care, such as regular pruning, is not necessary. If the ground ivy spreads too much, it can be kept in check by removing individual plants.

Is ground ivy hardy? Yes, it is a hardy plant. It can be left outside on the balcony or uncovered in the garden bed in winter. It can even tolerate double-digit minus temperatures.

Creeping charlie as a weed in the lawn

Ground ivy grows very quickly and spreads both by self-seeding and by its creeping roots. This herb competes with the lawn grasses for water, light, and nutrients; thus, it can harm lawns indirectly.

What helps against ground ivy in the lawn? Regular weeding and mowing, as well as the removal of lawn clippings, aid in the control by preventing it from seeding and re-sprouting. Ground ivy that has spread over a large area should be carefully cut out before the lawn is reseeded. The long shoots in particular should be regularly removed until the plant has been completely removed. The best time to do this is in early spring, before the creeping charlie flowers. Under no circumstances should you dispose of seed-bearing weeds in your home compost. The seeds can easily survive composting and then spread throughout the garden when the compost is used.

We always advise against using pesticides on dicotyledonous plants like ground ivy because they can cause long-term damage. The pesticides may be harmful to beneficial soil and lawn insects, and they may promote lawn problems such as moss.

Tip: If the lawn grows somewhat less densely in some parts of the garden, such as under trees, it is worth considering allowing ground ivy to grow there. Its fast creeping growth makes it an excellent ground cover.

Is ground ivy edible?

Can you eat ground ivy raw? Yes, it is edible raw. However, it is thought to be slightly toxic to humans because of the glechomin it contains. Glechomin has not been thoroughly studied but it can cause nausea if ingested in excess. Thanks to its slightly bitter flavour, ground ivy is suitable as a spice and in salads, but it should not be consumed in large quantities.

For which animals is ground ivy poisonous? Grazing animals such as horses and cattle, as well as rodents (especially guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits) do not tolerate ground ivy. It can be highly toxic to these animals, and larger quantities can also be slightly toxic to humans and cause nausea.

Harvesting ground ivy

You can harvest creeping charlie from the beginning of May. Young shoots or individual leaves and flowers can be cut off with small, sharp secateurs or gently pinched off with the fingers. Only harvest as much as the plant can tolerate. Always leave enough shoots for healthy re-growth. The shoots, leaves and flowers are edible. When dried, ground ivy is easy to store and can be infused to make tea later.

Ground ivy uses

The herb has been used as a medicinal and culinary plant since the 12th century. The essential oils it contains, which are released when the creeping charlie leaves are crushed, are said to reduce inflammation. It also has numerous uses in the kitchen: it is very popular as a spice, in green pesto and as a leafy green in salads. Use it sparingly as its minty, somewhat bitter and pungent taste is rather strong. According to folk medicine, it stimulates the metabolism and can help with chronic bladder and kidney diseases. Ground ivy tea is said to soothe liver problems, abscesses, tumours and eye problems.