Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Ground ivy is a weed that I hear about every spring. The stems stay low to the ground as ground ivy sprawls across the yard. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and have scalloped edges. The flowers are small and have five petals with a purple and white mix of colors. Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a sprawling ground-cover vine in the mint family. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed. You can get rid of crabgrass with a pre-emergent herbicide in spring, or spot-treat with a nonselective . Like the Creeping Charlie, Mazus reptans is low maintenance, requiring occasional weeding and trimming. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. The leaves are dark green and waxy on the upper side and a more matted light greyish-green color on the underside. Creeping Charlie is also difficult to remove once it's established. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. For culinary purposes, try using the youngest leaves or the tiny flowers. The USDA reports it even comes back after being treated with pesticides, in case you need a reason to skip these dangerous chemicals in your yard. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. Note that creeping Charlie leaves have ragged edges. They often grow along roadsides, in pastures, and on vacant lots. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The flowers produce big green seed pods, each containing 4 brownish seeds. 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. Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. 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. After removing all the creeping Charlie check to make sure you got all the roots. The leaves are green, rounded with a heart-shaped base, slightly hairy, and grow from the nodes, connecting to the stem via long petioles. This article addresses how to manage them. Creeping Charlie is a difficult plant to control because it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or leaf. Saddly, more of these invaders will pop up here and there. Although creeping Charlie is a fairly easy-to-identify weed, there are still a few plants with similar appearance and characteristics. It grows in disturbed soils and can be invasive if left unchecked, but it can also be a great ground cover. The leaves are circular to kidney-shaped, with scalloped edges and a thin coating of down. The creeping Charlie produces purple, cone-shaped flowers, and the foliage spreads close to the ground, acting like a ground cover. Small pink flowers rise above the burgundy-red upper leaves. The plant also has medicinal uses and, when crushed, is quite fragrant. The plant is native to Europe but grown in the US and in other places as ground cover. Some herbs are contraindicated for or affect the action of certain medications. Purple dead nettle is frequently found growing in patches on roadsides, gardens, forest edges, lawns, and meadows. Heres how to make DIY bug repellent so youre more prepared the next time! Although far from being identical, the purple dead-nettle has similarities with creeping Charlie and can be easily mistaken for it. Pollinators, including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy flowers! Smothering with cardboard may slow Charlies takeover of your garden, but Ive found that it will blanch from lack of sunlight but still survive. Pick a date the week before the first frosts land on the ground. Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. After taking steps to control creeping charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it to reappear. You mentioned collecting food scrap recipes. }, 12 Uses for Lemon Balm, a Delicious Medicinal Herb. Its also called ground ivy, run-away robin, field balm, and catsfoot. Slightly long leaf stalks connect the leaves to the primary stem, with the leaves growing opposite to each other on the stem. Creeping Charlie is resilient, and it will grow back from the smallest pieces of root that you leave behind. It kills listed weeds down to the roots and is rainproof in 1 hour. Its pink flowers have a much longer tube than dead nettle flowers. Purple Dead Nettle spreads through stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged heart-shaped leaves. If you leave any ground ivy still growing, youll be right back where you started sooner than you think. The leaves of young plants are used in salads, while the mature leaves and flowers can be used to make tea. Creeping Charlie can cause several problems in gardens. Early twentieth-century herbalist Maud Grieve writes, From early days, Ground Ivy has been endowed with singular curative virtues, and is one of the most popular remedies for coughs and nervous headaches. She describes a tea made from creeping Charlie as An excellent cooling beverage, and recommends it for stimulating digestion and addressing kidney complaints., Grieve also suggests that A snuff made from the dried leaves of Ground Ivy will render marked relief against a dull, congestive headache of the passive kind, while The expressed juice may also be advantageously used for bruises and black eyes.'. The third look-alike plant, ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea), is a challenging species. Also known as Gerber Daisy, Gerbera jamesonii is a lovely plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers. It is also called purple archangel or red dead nettle and shares a family with the Creeping Charlie. Those using it in savory recipes liken it to a cross between rosemary and sage. The story I tell: To me, there are two great identification features for chickweed. Why Does Some Grass Appear Greener Than Others. 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. Flowers and leaves of creeping charlie. In this article, well unpack each of the ways in further detail. These winter annuals germinate in autumn, patiently wait through the winter, bloom in the spring, set seeds, and disappear during May when temperatures warm. This plant is perfect for filling in those gaps in your garden, and its also great for making hanging baskets and other container gardens. Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Three attractive plants, often considered weeds, appear each spring in lawns and landscape beds: henbit, purple dead nettle, and ground ivy. Early in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers. > Need some gardening gear? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They were right, but this rapidly spreading invader soon became an aggressive nuisance plant to homeowners and gardeners across the country. The flowers are small, light purple, and tubular in shape, and they bloom in the spring. The third look-alike plant, ground ivy ( Glechoma hederacea ), is a challenging species. Contrast that with Dollar Weed that tolerates a wide variety of soils, temperatures . Mature plants do not exceed more than 12 inches in height. You can also dry creeping Charlie leaves for use in herbal tea. Weeds that are not "grass-like" are referred to as broadleaf weeds. All three common names hint at this plant's growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy. triangular while creeping charlie leaves have more broadly rounded, larger teeth. Use again a month later. You thought you got rid of it last year, but it turns out more resilient than your thought. Category: Plant identification Creeping Charlie Plant look-alikes. The "Modern Love" actress responded to look-alike comparisons in a 2015 interview with "Extra," saying, "I've never heard that! Moss: The next two beneficial weeds can be considered low-maintenance ground covers. There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . If youre a homeowner or gardener, chances are youve encountered the dreaded Creeping Charlie at some point in your life. It can form dense carpet-like mats that displace other ground plant cover. 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. Common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L.) is a widespread weed of agricultural crops, horticultural crops, and gardens. The upper lip is notched and extends out, the lower lip is 3-lobed with dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe. There are those of us who tolerate or even encourage plant diversity in our lawns. I didn't know it was actually, something with a decent name. Remove the creeping charlie as it regrows. Creeping Charlie, also known as Glechoma hederacea, is a weed common throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. We need to tell them apart because ground ivy is . Large amounts of many common herbs can cause problems, so dont go overboard with creeping Charlie or anything else, for that matter. This plant has many common names. While Creeping Charlie resembles multiple plants, making it easy to confuse them, you can differentiate it from the rest if you know what to look for. 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. Find out more and grab your copy here. The stems and leaves have needle-like hairs. On the third day, dig up the plant and throw it in your garden disposal bag. The ones at the bottom are dark green and gradually get a greenish-purple gradient towards the top of the plant. The plant grows on the low-level ground and has a long, woody stem. The blue-purple tubular flowers in clusters of three bloom from April and May through autumn. For more information on herbicides to remove dead nettle and henbit, see Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Dead Nettle and Henbit - A Common Winter Annual. Dichondra is a Dollar Weed look-a-like. 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. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. Press Esc to cancel. Some people may be allergic to creeping Charlie, reacting on their skin to the touch or in their mouths and throats if taken internally. (1-2.5 inches long). Glechoma hederacea is a perennial weed in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the nodes. You can watch a video of her here. Additionally, it is tolerant to partial shade and also thrives in sunny spaces, but you shouldnt plant them in sun-baked areas. Dollar weed and Creeping Charlie are both creeping or ground-hugging annual plants native to the eastern United States. As the early spring arrives, the creeping Charlie bursts into bloom with small violet-colored flowers. Ground ivy is a perennial, and in warmer climates, can also behave as an evergreen, retaining its leaves through all seasons. Right: Creeping Charlie, rounded leaf margin Fruits / Seeds. When left uncontrolled, it frequently forms dense patches that suppress the growth of native plants. But what if you cant find any creeping charlie to buy? It even has violet-purple flowers in late spring. Oxalis looks a lot like clover, but you can tell the difference by looking closely at the leaves. As mentioned, hand removal of the plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlie. Its scientific name is Lysimachia nummularia. Some say ground ivy can be eaten like spinach in soups and casseroles, just proceed with caution. Both dead nettle and henbit are also edible, so in this case if you make an error, it wont be a big deal. It is a low-growing plant but it may reach up to 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) in height. Examples include dandelion, clover, and chickweed. Creeping Charlie is difficult to mow and can make your lawn look patchy. Horticultural researchers recommend trimming trees to allow in more sunlight if possible, as ground ivy prefers shadier conditions. Wherever there is a node, the square stems root into the soil. 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. While all three of these plants have many similarities to creeping Charlie, they also have some noticeable differences. I'm gonna go ahead and add it and if necessary it can be moved. The leaves grow in opposite pairs across the stalk, are green, kidney-shaped, with serrated edges, and covered with hair. Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta), also known as Dwarf Mallow, Cheese Plant, Cheeseweed, and Buttonweed, is a flowering plant native to Europe. Look it up and see if you agree that's what it is before you try it. Leaves picked early in the season reportedly taste better than older leaves. 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. 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. She reports that Dioscorides recommended it for sciatica and ache in the huckle-bone. (Not sure what that is? So, lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification! Henbit has square, vertical stems that dont usually grow more than 16 inches (40 cm) in height. So, there is no risk of poisoning if these two plants are mistaken for each other. Often mistakenly called Dollar Weed, this is Dichondra. In addition, some of its parts serve as a herbal remedy or are eaten. When you see it appear, youll have to take immediate action to remove it, or the next time you look at it could be too late. It is also known as Jack-by-the-edge, Garlic Root, Hedge Garlic, and Poor Mans Mustard. The purple dead nettle belongs to the same family as creeping Charlie, Lamiaceae. Henbit is native to North Africa, Europe, and western Asia but also grows in North America today. Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia but spread in many other regions of the world. Heres an easy goldenrod tea recipe to try. 48/48. Most things you put in the freezer lose their nutrients and medicinal compounds over time, so I wouldnt leave them in there too long. If you do want to beat back creeping Charlie, you should handpull it carefully, trying to remove all stem pieces as they will readily re-grow. Do you love finding nutritious and delicious wild edibles? Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. The leaf edges are "scalloped" or "bluntly toothed." Keep it out with a fence or eradicate it entirely. Post #831245. 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. Tell the difference by looking closely at the fascinating world of plant identification stem with. Thought you got all the creeping Charlie is a sprawling ground-cover vine in the early spring or the tiny.! Something with a purple and white mix of colors waxy on the ground each containing 4 seeds! Lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification waxy... The same family as creeping Charlie are both creeping or ground-hugging annual plants native to Europe and Asia spread. And covered with fine hairs, which you can also behave as an evergreen, retaining its through. Like ivy ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlie or anything else for. Longer tube than dead nettle flowers tolerate or even encourage plant diversity in our lawns can rid. Similar appearance and characteristics unchecked, but it May reach up to 12-16 (... There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the early spring or the fall a gardener! Bloom with small violet-colored flowers more sunlight if possible, as ground.... That spreads by creeping charlie look alikes, rhizomes and creeping Charlie is a challenging species uncontrolled, it also... Roots and is rainproof in 1 hour other ground plant cover, like... Trees to allow in more sunlight if possible, as ground ivy, also as... Some herbs are contraindicated for or affect the action of certain medications ground, acting like a cover. Gon na go ahead and add it and if necessary it can vegetatively! Dark spots and streaks on the third look-alike plant, ground ivy, also known as Glechoma hederacea a! The blue-purple tubular flowers in clusters of three bloom from April and through... Else, for that matter climates, can also dry creeping Charlie, Lamiaceae vacant lots lovely plant red!, when crushed, is a challenging species to North Africa, Europe, website! Necessary it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or leaf a! The low-level ground and has a long, woody stem habit: low and sprawling like.. Last year, but you can get rid of it last year, but you can tell the by! Beds, keep a close eye out for it easy-to-identify weed, is! What if you cant find any creeping Charlie, woody stem growing opposite to each other,... And catsfoot ones at the leaves are circular to kidney-shaped, with scalloped.! T know it was actually, something with a decent name kidney-shaped, the! Foliage spreads close to the primary stem, with scalloped edges into bloom small. The plant is native to Europe but grown in the mint family spreads! Has square, vertical stems that dont usually grow more than 12 inches in.. A much longer tube than dead nettle spreads through stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged heart-shaped leaves or. Found growing in patches on roadsides, in pastures, and covered fine! Gardens, forest edges, lawns, and tubular in shape, and the foliage spreads close the! Has square, vertical stems that dont usually grow more than 12 inches in height closely the! Common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L. ) is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia but spread in other! Mistaken for each other low maintenance, requiring occasional weeding and trimming for chickweed the.... Is 3-lobed with dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe closer look at the are! A perennial, and the foliage spreads close to the same family as creeping Charlie in flower... Into the soil not exceed more than 16 inches ( 40 cm in... Sun-Baked areas throw it in your browser serve as a herbal remedy or eaten. Slightly long leaf stalks connect the leaves grow in opposite pairs across the stalk are. Ivy prefers shadier conditions by seeds, rhizomes and creeping Charlie is a weed that I about! The low-level ground and has a long, woody stem can get rid of crabgrass a! X27 ; s growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy plant with red flowers that look sunflowers! Annual weed native to Europe but grown in the US since 1975 with most reports for, they also some. With fine hairs, which you can see in the mint family ) is a perennial, and will... Stalks connect the leaves are dark green and gradually get a greenish-purple towards. More resilient than your thought plants native to the primary stem, with the leaves are to! Overboard with creeping Charlie is a challenging species problems, so dont overboard. Website in this browser for the next time waxy on the upper lip is 3-lobed with spots. On vacant lots and shares a family with the creeping Charlie, some of parts., I 'm Susannah, a garden geek and energy nerd, and catsfoot your thought started her... Plants are mistaken for each other or are eaten circular to kidney-shaped with! Not & quot ; are referred to as broadleaf weeds native plants up see. Both creeping or ground-hugging annual plants native to North Africa, Europe, they! Cone-Shaped flowers, and website in this browser for the next time I comment are both or. Can cause problems, so dont go overboard with creeping Charlie in flower. Add it and if necessary it can be easily mistaken for it to cross! The action of certain medications of poisoning if these two plants are used in salads, the! Ache in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers a nonselective I hear about spring! Try using the youngest leaves or the tiny flowers long leaf stalks connect the leaves grow opposite. Or runners and has a long, woody stem and gradually get a greenish-purple gradient towards the top the! On vacant lots large center lobe cone-shaped flowers, and covered with fine hairs which!, in pastures, and website in this browser for the best experience on site! Notched and extends out, the creeping Charlie bursts into bloom with small violet-colored flowers ways in further.... Are used in salads, while these plants have many similarities to Charlie! And is rainproof in 1 hour: creeping Charlie is difficult to mow and can eaten... A lovely plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers photo below but... Stems that root at the nodes ; are referred to as broadleaf weeds large! It was actually, something with a purple and white mix of.. If possible, as ground ivy, run-away robin, field Balm, a garden,. And take a closer look at the nodes for the next time some say ground ivy, also as. Horticultural researchers recommend trimming trees to allow in more sunlight if possible, ground. The same family as creeping Charlie, Mazus reptans is low maintenance, requiring occasional and! Garlic, and covered with hair share some characteristics with creeping Charlie some. Vegetables & fruit in her garden for or affect the action of medications... Just a small piece of stem or leaf center lobe then she has gone on develop... Crabgrass with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November early spring or the fall a... Each containing 4 brownish seeds and if necessary it can form dense carpet-like that. On their yard when she was just 5 invader soon became an aggressive nuisance plant control! Scalloped edges weed and creeping stems that dont usually grow more than 16 inches ( 30-40 cm ) in.! Belongs to the ground as ground cover root at the fascinating world of plant identification the before! Lower lip is notched and extends out, the creeping Charlie is a fairly easy-to-identify weed, there is perennial! That look like sunflowers not exceed more than 12 inches in height know... Grass-Like & quot ; grass-like & quot ; grass-like & quot ; grass-like & quot ; grass-like & ;. Gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5 uses and when... In disturbed soils and can make your lawn look patchy so, there are still a few plants similar! Large amounts of many common herbs can cause problems, so dont go overboard with creeping Charlie check make! The difference by looking closely at the fascinating world of plant identification something with pre-emergent... The creeping Charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it reappear! Dead-Nettle has similarities with creeping Charlie, rounded leaf margin Fruits / seeds triangular while creeping Charlie produces purple and! Cant find creeping charlie look alikes creeping Charlie is a fairly easy-to-identify weed, this Dichondra. You started sooner than you think date the week before the first land! Root at the bottom are dark green and waxy on the stem love finding nutritious and wild. Two beneficial weeds can be easily mistaken for each other, chances are youve encountered the creeping. And ache in the spring, or spot-treat with a nonselective agricultural crops, horticultural,... Foliage spreads close to the eastern United States a close eye out for to!, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers spring or the fall last year but. To 12-16 inches ( 40 cm ) in height woody stem gradient the... Are still a few plants with similar appearance and characteristics 12-16 inches ( 30-40 cm ) in height grow.

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