This weed can take over large areas during the summer, and if you dont kill it back, then its going to breed and take over your entire yard the following year. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. Those using it in savory recipes liken it to a cross between rosemary and sage. Hollie is a life-long gardener, having started helping her Dad work on their yard when she was just 5. Maybe not a bad thing if you want ground ivys medicinal properties without its strong flavor? While all three of these plants have many similarities to creeping Charlie, they also have some noticeable differences. Cutaway any loose, unrooted vines, and keep working until you get to the primary stem of the plant. Both dead nettle and henbit are also edible, so in this case if you make an error, it wont be a big deal. Like the Creeping Charlie, Mazus reptans is low maintenance, requiring occasional weeding and trimming. Do you have a beautiful lawn that you've worked hard to maintain, only to find unsightly molehills dotting the landscape? In this article, well unpack each of the ways in further detail. Lawn Weed Identification - Three Weed Groups. Filed Under: Health & Natural Remedies, Foraging Tagged With: foraging, medicinal plants. When I was younger, my family had one of the greatest lawns in the neighborhood. How can you use the life cycle of a winter annual to manage it? They are clump-forming tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. 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. 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. High in vitamin C, it was used to prevent scurvy, but it also got put to many other traditional uses that date all the way back to ancient Greece. Lisa Roses Midwest Foraging recommends trying ground ivy in salads, spring rolls, or muddled in mojitos. It also releases an aromatic scent when stepped on or brushed against. I am here to share my years of experience with you. A well-mulched bed makes it easier to see and eliminate this plant. This plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants. This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. Who do I need to contact to buy the plants? Although creeping Charlie is a fairly easy-to-identify weed, there are still a few plants with similar appearance and characteristics. To this day, it is considered one of the most difficult . Regular mowing will remove the flowers before seeds mature. After pulling, make sure you place the roots and plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible. Creeping charlie is an aggressive weed that prefers moist, partly shaded areas, but it grows almost as well in sun, spreading quickly into lawns and planting beds. 6. However, the creeping Charlie features scalloped edges on the leaves, while the Creeping Jenny foliage is smooth. Early in the spring, the plant produces small, pink or purple flowers that bloom in clusters. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed. Additionally, this weed can reduce the quality of your lawn. Your email address will not be published. I just went and got a leaf. Honey bees and bumble bees visit to gather nectar. 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? Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Photo credit: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org. Note that creeping Charlie leaves have ragged edges. It has dark green fan-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. . Forage Wild Food makes a tempting-looking asparagus and pea pilau with ground ivy. Reply. Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries. In spring, small, bluish-purple,funnel-shaped flowers appear. The leaves are round or oval-shaped and have scalloped edges. This plant has many common names. Mature plants do not exceed more than 10 inches in height. 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. The plants in the nettle family have single, hairy, erect stalks, square stems, and heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges and pointed tips. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its an archaic term for hip). Pennywort leaves connect to the leaf stem in the center, not at the edge. Scroll down to the recipes linked at the bottom, and youll find some people using ground ivy successfully in savory dishes. It has dark green fan-shaped leaves with scalloped edges. It shares the square stem of the mint family and its mild scent. First, this does not look like Creeping Charlie. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Got it? Hoffman recommends gathering leaves and flowering stems from mid-spring to early summer for use in tinctures and tea. However, there are also several plants that look very similar in leaf structure, stems, and blooms. For recommendations on herbicides to control ground ivy see Controlling Ground Ivy in Home Lawns. Moss: The next two beneficial weeds can be considered low-maintenance ground covers. that make no mention of this ubiquitous edible weed. I recommend starting with a very small amount to make sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish. [6] 6. Native Americans used ground ivy to treat colds, hives, and measles. Check out our new line of t-shirts! 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. The roots of the creeping Charlie can branch out further than the canopy, and youll need to ensure the tarp covers this far to make the smothering effective. Its leaves, seed and stalks are all considered edible. Thin, creeping underground rhizomes spread and release chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. Make sure you maintain the lawn for the rest of the following season and look out for any signs of returning the plant. Pull the creeping Charlie and dispose of the plant in your garden waste bag. Welcome to a brief guide on everything you need to know about removing creeping Charlie from your backyard. How to describe creeping Charlies unique flavor? Today, this plant is widespread throughout many states of the United States. Glechoma hederacea is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America and other parts of the world as a medicinal or ornamental plant, used occasionally as a groundcover. Need some simple, practical solutions for living healthier and greener? Start, is a tropical nettle relative grown as a houseplant, and. Identifying crabgrass can be a problem because of the assortment of portraits it can claim. Your email address will not be published. Water the ground thoroughly and dig up the root system. Moreover, parts of red dead nettle are edible or used as a herbal remedy. The creeping Charlie lookalikes discussed above can also offer great ground cover. It might be easy to obtain plants from someone nearby, but you can also find seeds online here. The margins of the leaves have lobes or teeth. If you landed here because you were searching for ways to kill creeping Charlie, read on to learn why you might want to reconsider. 838,276 Views. It is also called Cheese plant, Dwarf Mallow, Buttonweed, and Cheeseweed. Creeping charlie has a long history of medicinal use. Some people may be allergic to creeping Charlie, reacting on their skin to the touch or in their mouths and throats if taken internally. Hand-pulling or hoeing works, but be sure to remove the whole plant, including the fibrous roots, before henbit or dead nettle sets seed. This plant is commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, typically under trees. Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. The square stems are covered with fine bristly hair over their upper surface. creeping charlie is a ground vine (ground ivy) so has a different stem set-up. At a glance, both the plants might look alike. The flowers develop 2 or 3 clusters in the axils of the leaf on the stems superior part or close to the tip. Knowing these creeping Charlie uses can add significantly to your options for foraging in your own yard. This method will take forever with large plants and only offers you limited success. While youre out investigating your yard for creeping Charlie, grab some dandelion flowers and leaves and brew up a cup of tasty dandelion tea. Wild violet is also a low-growing perennial weed that spreads in patches. July 14, 2014 7:58 AM. Creeping Charlie can cause several problems in gardens. However, the reality is that its an invasive weed. Want some super-simple ways to live healthier now? However, youll find dozens of foraging guides even those covering hundreds of plants! Widespread Infestation To control a large creeping . As mentioned, hand removal of the plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlie. So, lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification! 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. I made the mistake a couple of years . It also grows in landscapes, waste places, and disturbed sites, on both acidic and alkaline soils, and is common throughout the US. This plant is perfect for filling in those gaps in your garden, and its also great for making hanging baskets and other container gardens. A prime and often cursed at weed of turfgrass and other landscape areas, creeping Charlie is native to Europe and southern Asia but was brought into North America for use medicinally. Incredibly lush and green. What does Creeping Charlie look like? Are there lookalikes? Creeping Charlie, also known as Glechoma hederacea, is a weed common throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. However, youll need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the creeping Charlie. It is also commonly known as red dead-nettle or purple archangel. They are succulents, fleshy, usually have an elliptical shape tapering at the base, and grow in clusters at stem joints and ends. The Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs doesnt include ground ivy in the index, but does in fact have a short entry noting traditional uses for ground ivy tea to address lung and kidney ailments and external applications for bruises, backache, cancer, and hemorrhoids. Can add significantly to your options for foraging in your own yard the is... Offer great ground cover the flowers before seeds mature or muddled in mojitos the leaf in... Recipes liken it to a cross between rosemary and sage can reduce the of! Also known as red dead-nettle or purple archangel Natural Remedies, foraging Tagged:. Removal of the mint family and its mild scent from qualifying purchases and Cheeseweed relative grown as herbal... Look very similar in leaf structure, stems, and Cheeseweed, sure. It also releases an aromatic scent when stepped on or brushed against plant... 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