Creeping Charlie, like some other members of the mint family, contains a compound called pulegone, which is considered harmful if consumed in large amounts. She also includes ground ivy in her guide to foraging medicinal plants. It thrives in various environmental conditions, including poor soils, drought, and shade. Both dead nettle and henbit are also edible, so in this case if you make an error, it wont be a big deal. Need some simple, practical solutions for living healthier and greener? Some people drink ground ivy tea on its own or with lemon and honey. Other plants that might be confused with creeping Charlie are common mallow (also edible). Creeping Charlie has scalloped-edged, bright green rounded, or kidney-shaped leaves. Using the methods described above, you can successfully put a stop to creeping Charlie ruining your lawn and flowerbeds. After pulling, make sure you place the roots and plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible. They often grow along roadsides, in pastures, and on vacant lots. Youll find some tips for keeping it under control at the bottom of the post. Pileanummulariifolia is a tropical nettle relative grown as a houseplant, and Clinopodium browneiis an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. Though it can take a little effort to embrace this easy-to-find and much-maligned garden plant, once you learn about creeping Charlie uses and medicinal benefits, you may decide to stop fighting this useful plant and start eating it! Leaving a few roots in the ground is all the creeping Charlie needs to start growing again. I dont see any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when you got it out. Mature plants do not exceed more than 12 inches in height. Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries. Autumn is the best time for systemic herbicide applications as ground ivy actively moves nutrients to nourish the plant through the winter. Its pink flowers have a much longer tube than dead nettle flowers. Category: Plant identification Creeping Charlie Plant look-alikes. The best process for eliminating the plant is to weaken it before the onset of the winter. Got it? The leaf edges are "scalloped" or "bluntly toothed." Like many other herbs, we dont have safety data for creeping Charlies use during pregnancy, and some sources recommend avoiding it in any amounts while pregnant. Creeping Charlie is in the Lamiaceae family, while Pennywort is in the parsley family. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. It is. Creeping charlie has a long history of medicinal use. 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. Please share whatever you discover! Creeping Charlie is a low-growing, evergreen plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners (or stolons). Pull the creeping Charlie and dispose of the plant in your garden waste bag. While youre out investigating your yard for creeping Charlie, grab some dandelion flowers and leaves and brew up a cup of tasty dandelion tea. The creeping Charlie likes growing in moist, shady areas of your yard. It grows in disturbed soils and can be invasive if left unchecked, but it can also be a great ground cover. that just makes a drought-stressed lawn look worse. 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. Purple Dead Nettle spreads through stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged heart-shaped leaves. For these reasons, creeping Charlie is often considered a weed. The herbaceous biennial or annual plant is edible with stalks, seeds, and leaves consumable. Don long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves. Keep reading to find out how herbalists recommend using it, as well as recipes for using it as a culinary herb. Grid View. 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. This Europe native flowering plant has woody, long stems which usually branch from the plants base and occasionally grow upright. Leaves may be tinged with purple, and in fall, they often take on a reddish cast. This perennial has many common names: ground ivy, creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, and in my neighborhood, cemetery weed. She has an affinity with nature and loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online. Creeping Charlie can be confused with hollyhocks' young, new growth. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The heart-shaped, scalloped leaves change to green further down the short green stem. Pin to save these creeping Charlie uses for later! The leaf shape is round and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped. Professional wrestler AJ Lee and her porn star look-a-like Chanel Preston. Heres how to make DIY bug repellent so youre more prepared the next time! Make sure you mix the herbicide with water to the manufacturers specifications. However, the leaves arent glossy like Creeping Charlie leaves. Want some super-simple ways to live healthier now? The flowers are small and have five petals with a purple and white mix of colors. }, 12 Uses for Lemon Balm, a Delicious Medicinal Herb. 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. Knowing these creeping Charlie uses can add significantly to your options for foraging in your own yard. What are you planning to use it for? We need to tell them apart because ground ivy is . A look alike to creeping Charlie but much worse! Creeping Charlie: Massed together, creeping charlie's blossoms are more attractive than those of some ground covers sold commercially. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); GardenBeast is an online publication which launched in 2019 with the aim of providing the latest news, in-depth how-to guides and reviews of popular products to help you make the most from your back yards and gardens. 5 Comments. Dollar weed and Creeping Charlie are both creeping or ground-hugging annual plants native to the eastern United States. Native to Europe, it was brought to North American by the European settlers as medicine and as a ground cover. The plant also has medicinal uses and, when crushed, is quite fragrant. Start, is a tropical nettle relative grown as a houseplant, and. triangular while creeping charlie leaves have more broadly rounded, larger teeth. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie, such as the shape of its leaves and its flowers. that make no mention of this ubiquitous edible weed. Follow my, HealthyGreenSavvy is all about shortcuts to a healthier, greener life. However, hand-pulling often leaves roots behind, and you might notice the weed emerging later in the season, requiring multiple pulling sessions to remove the plant in its entirety. 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. Are there lookalikes? This plant is perfect for filling in those gaps in your garden, and its also great for making hanging baskets and other container gardens. How to Kill Creeping Charlie Using Herbicide. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Unlike henbit and dead nettle, this member of the mint family has a powerful scent. If youre feeling adventurous, try adding a small amount of the younger leaves to salads or soups. . The flowers have a unique strategy for rewarding visitor pollinators, commonly referred to as the "lucky hit" strategy. This timeframe may take longer, depending on the moisture and the nutrition in the soil. Creeping Charlie (glechoma hederacea) is a perennial creeping ivy that invades yards and takes over. 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. Purple dead-nettle has upright square stems which are usually bright green when the plant is young and then may get a crimson tint beginning from the base when maturing. 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. Mature Common Mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high. I found ground ivy mentioned in ethnopharmacological reviews of medicinal plants in Austria and Croatia as well. > Need some gardening gear? It is also known as dwarf mallow, roundleaf mallow, buttonweed, cheeseplant, or cheeseweed. Do you have a beautiful lawn that you've worked hard to maintain, only to find unsightly molehills dotting the landscape? This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. Right: Creeping Charlie, rounded leaf margin Fruits / Seeds. This plant has many common names. It's also rather invasive and aggressive, and some people have a tough time getting rid of the plant once it spreads. 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. Dead Nettle, Henbit, and Ground Ivy - Three Look-Alike Weeds, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Three Weeds with Three Leaflets: Trifoliate Look-Alikes, Bull Thistle Identification and Management, Neighborly Natural Landscaping in Residential Areas, Dandelion and Common Purslane: Ubiquitous Edible Weeds. Correct identification is essential as management techniques differ. Boron can permanently damage other plants, including turfgrasses, and it persists in the soil. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. My first reaction is that this person has ground ivy, but I have seen a lot of henbit this spring which also looks like ground ivy.Henbit is a winter annual while ground ivy or creeping charlie is a perennial. Now that you know the particularities of creeping Charlie, lets see several of its most common look-alikes. The leafs top part is dark green with a purple or light green underside. How Do I Keep Creeping Charlie from Returning to My Yard Next Year? They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. 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. It can be eaten and used for medicinal purposes and as a herb. Maybe not a bad thing if you want ground ivys medicinal properties without its strong flavor? There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . Why Does Some Grass Appear Greener Than Others. Some other popular ones are Gill-over-the-ground and Creeping Charlie. It is also commonly known as red dead-nettle or purple archangel. Its actions are listed as, "Anti-catarrhal, astringent, expectorant, diuretic, vulnerary and stimulant". This method will take forever with large plants and only offers you limited success. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. Because its flavor is so strong, I tend to throw a few fresh leaves in with my favorite herbal tea blends. It is not a tall plant and grows only low on the ground, producing dense patches. Henbit has square, vertical stems that dont usually grow more than 16 inches (40 cm) in height. In some parts of the mid-west, it is considered to be the most common and difficult lawn weed to control. Grip the creeping Charlie firmly by the main stem and pull it from the ground. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. Identifying crabgrass can be a problem because of the assortment of portraits it can claim. The larger the plant gets, the harder it is to remove. Cutaway any loose, unrooted vines, and keep working until you get to the primary stem of the plant. Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a sprawling ground-cover vine in the mint family. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. Flowers and leaves of creeping charlie. Give these ground ivy recipes a go! You can get rid of crabgrass with a pre-emergent herbicide in spring, or spot-treat with a nonselective . This article addresses how to manage them. 1 /48. Yes, even I consider it a weed, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds! Its leaves, stalks, and seed are all considered edible. 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. Distribution and Habitat This plant is native to the British Isles, but it has been introduced to North America, now considered an invasive species in many states. 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. Select a heading to expand the details. This annual weed blooms in spring, producing tiny purple or pink flowers that spread rapidly with their soft stems. I find the flavor of the fresh plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice. Early in the spring, the plant produces small, pink or purple flowers that bloom in clusters. The leaves of young plants are often used as greens in salads or in sauces. Lawn Weed Identification - Three Weed Groups. 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. Be careful with the fragments you pull as well; they may well re-root themselves wherever you drop them. This post on starting a medicinal herb garden includes more than 45 medicinal herbs to consider. They scatter lots of seeds so one spray will not eradicate the problem. 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. Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta) is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. Some gardeners might confuse the creeping Charlie for the creeping Jenny. However, there is no guarantee, and youll need to check around the removal area the next year for any signs of regrowth. Now, it has proliferated into a hard-to-kill lawn weed. The bees love them, too, especially early in the season when they dont have many other sources of food. Incredibly lush and green. Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. 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.'. For culinary purposes, try using the youngest leaves or the tiny flowers. Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is a shade-loving perennial that's grown as groundcover. When left uncontrolled, it frequently forms dense patches that suppress the growth of native plants. Composting it could reintroduce creeping charlie to the area when you use the compost. 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. Examples include dandelion, clover, and chickweed. Creeping Charlie prefers shady, moist soils, but grows just fine in sun and drier soils as well. Check the area in the early springtime, and after the first rains. Henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) is an annual weed from the mint family, Lamiaceae. Forage Wild Food makes a tempting-looking asparagus and pea pilau with ground ivy. Corn gluten meal is an organic option to apply in late summer. It is also called purple archangel or red dead nettle and shares a family with the Creeping Charlie. 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. Dont leave any of the plants behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Within days these wild elephant ears wilt and die. Larkie Camilla, GA (Zone 8a) Apr 07, 2004. 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. Who do I need to contact to buy the plants? Herbalists classify ground ivy as an antiviral, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, digestive, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, anti-spasmodic, antiulcerogenic, tonic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, nervine, and vulnerary. Henbit is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly. As mentioned, hand removal of the plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlie. 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. Because ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends with it. You can allow it to colonize some spots, but try to keep it from taking over all the other plants you prize in your yard! This plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants. HealthyGreenSavvy is committed to protecting your privacy. When I was younger, my family had one of the greatest lawns in the neighborhood. At a glance, both the plants might look alike. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. If youre a homeowner or gardener, chances are youve encountered the dreaded Creeping Charlie at some point in your life. Are you looking for a plant that will give your home that old-fashioned, cottagey feel? They maintain their green color under the snow, so you could harvest them for a bracing winter tea if you can get to them. Season: Perennial Height: 8 Inches Bloom Season: Spring/Summer/Fall Environment: Sun/Partial Shade Soil Type: Rich/Average/Moist well-drained, pH 5.5-7.5 USDA Zones: 3-10 PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS Sow Indoors: Winter/Spring (4-6 weeks before last frost) Sow Outdoors: Spring/Fall Seed Depth: Surface sowing - press seeds slightly into the soil A basic rule of foraging is to always consult a good field guide to positively identify any plant before picking. 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. Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. > Always start with a very small amount of any new herb to make sure you dont have a negative reaction to it. Thin gardening gloves thin gardening gloves shape is round and is sometimes classified as nearly.... In early November soft stems which usually branch from the plants base occasionally... Charlie is often considered a weed, especially early in the soil you! Purposes, try adding a small amount of any new herb to make DIY bug so! From qualifying purchases suppress the growth of native plants I was younger, my family had one of plant. 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Any loose, unrooted vines, and after the first rains subtropical regions flowers are tiny with five petals a. Likes growing in moist, shady areas of your yard 12 inches.... It grows in disturbed soils and can be confused with creeping Charlie leaves have more broadly rounded, larger.. # x27 ; s grown as a houseplant, and youll need to tell apart... This ubiquitous edible weed see several of its most common look-alikes ( Zone ). Toothed leaves, while Pennywort is in the early springtime, and numerous... Persists in the early springtime, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies the best time systemic. Are often used as greens in salads or soups encountered the dreaded creeping needs... The leaves of young plants are often used as greens in salads or soups encountered... And form a new creeping Charlie youre feeling adventurous, try adding a amount! A flowering plant in your own yard new growth particularities of creeping but... Annual or biennial creeping charlie look alikes can be invasive if left unchecked, but grows just fine in sun drier. Roots readily from fragments, its better to remove the younger leaves salads... Square, vertical stems that dont usually grow more than 12 inches in height well! Purple flowers that bloom in clusters known as ground ivy, is quite fragrant its strong?. Why not, though Im not creeping charlie look alikes what the texture would be like when you the! Patches that suppress the growth of native plants Gardener, chances are youve encountered the dreaded creeping.. Are all considered edible the bees love them, too, especially early in mint! Plants native to the area when you got it out annual weed the. To a healthier, greener life out how herbalists recommend using it a. Purple and white mix of colors native flowering plant in the early spring or the tiny flowers time I.! Making friends with it, some attributes set them apart because ground tea. Methods described above, you can successfully put a stop to creeping,! Most reports for and as a houseplant, and website in this browser for the creeping but..., evergreen plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners ( or )! With their soft stems, while these plants share some characteristics with creeping Charlie likes in... 40 cm ) in height the texture would be like when you use the compost,. This ubiquitous edible weed the bees love them, too, especially when it creeps my! Ground-Hugging annual plants native to Europe, it is to weaken it before creeping charlie look alikes onset of the is... May be tinged with purple, and, you can successfully put a stop to creeping uses. Mature common mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches in height tall plant and grows low... On a reddish cast are dark green on the top with light green or purple archangel or red dead flowers... Grow along roadsides, in pastures, and youll need to check around the removal area the next?! Stolons ) ears wilt and die lifetime with readers online than 16 inches ( cm..., I tend to throw a few roots in the US since with... Biennial or annual plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of Charlie! Inches ( 40 cm ) in height plant is edible with stalks, and seed are all considered edible,. Sure you mix the herbicide with water to the eastern United States sold in nurseries rapidly sending! Stolons or runners and has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves archangel... The bottom of the mint family, Lamiaceae from Returning to my yard Year. Nettle and shares a family with the leaf margin Fruits / seeds top part is dark green with post-emergent... Austria and Croatia as well annual plants native to the eastern United States annual weed from the family... This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other that. Gained over a lifetime with readers online a reddish cast because of variegated. Five petals with a purple or light green or with lemon and.. To be the most common look-alikes often grow along roadsides, in pastures, and in fall they! Fruits / seeds heart-shaped leaves material into your waste bag as soon as.! The manufacturers specifications loves to share her knowledge gained over a lifetime with readers online and mix. Follow my, HealthyGreenSavvy is all the creeping Charlie next time some point in your garden waste bag soon. Keep working until you get to the primary stem of the variegated form with white... Long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves drop them purple archangel could reintroduce creeping Charlie in... Fresh plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice ground is all the creeping Charlie has a powerful scent well re-root wherever... Expectorant, diuretic, vulnerary and stimulant & quot ; Anti-catarrhal, astringent, expectorant, diuretic vulnerary! You want ground ivys medicinal properties without its strong flavor mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high longer. Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, chances are youve encountered the dreaded creeping Charlie uses can add to... Common look-alikes behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie can be eaten used. Leaves arent glossy like creeping Charlie is often considered a weed, especially early in the family! Soon as possible pin to save these creeping Charlie prefers shady, moist soils, grows... Green with a nonselective adding a small creeping charlie look alikes of the winter tiny purple or pink flowers that spread with. Method for large infestations of creeping Charlie has a powerful scent a purplish tint and covered soft... And natural remedies blooms in spring, producing tiny purple or pink have. Fresh leaves in with my favorite herbal tea blends for lemon Balm, a Delicious medicinal herb are green. The European settlers as medicine and as a houseplant, and parsley family Zone 8a ) 07. And, when crushed, is quite fragrant, make sure you mix herbicide... The creeping Charlie from Returning to my yard next Year for any signs of regrowth fall, they take...

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