Ontario Weeds: Ground ivy

Table of Contents

1. Name
2. Other Names
3. Family
4. General Description
   • Photos and Pictures
5. Stems and Roots
6. Flowers and Fruit
7. Habitat
8. Similar Species
9. Related Links

Name: Ground-ivy, Glechoma hederacea L.,

Other Names: lierre terrestre, Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-ground, gléchome lierre, lierre-terrestre panaché

Family: Mint Family (Labiatae)

General Description: Perennial, reproducing by seed and by creeping stems.

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Photos and Pictures

Ground ivy, in a lawn.

Ground ivy. Portion of a "creeping" stem lying on the ground surface, rooting from every node, as well as producing leaves and upright shoots from most nodes.

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Stems & Roots: Stems prostrate, rooting at every node which touches the ground, producing short, erect, leafy branches 10-30cm (4-12in.) high and slightly hairy; leaves opposite (2 per node), long-stalked, hairy, green or somewhat purplish; margins coarsely round-toothed to wavy-toothed.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers 1 to several (usually in pairs) in axils of upper leaves; calyx short, tubular with 5 short, sharp, soft points; corolla blue-violet to purplish, about 10-23mm (2/5-7/8in.) long and 6-10mm (¼-2/5in.) wide, of 5 united petals, irregular, tubular, 2-lipped at the end, the upper lip with 2 shallow lobes and the lower lip with 3 larger lobes; each flower producing 4 tiny nutlets ("seeds"). The leaves and stems have a strong, disagreeable, almost rancid mint-like odour but the flowers are sweeter and they are sometimes used as a garnish when icing cakes. Flowers from late spring until autumn.

Habitat: Ground-ivy occurs throughout Ontario but is much more common in the southern parts of the province, infesting gardens, roadsides, waste areas, pastures, open woods and occasionally edges of cultivated fields.

Similar Species: It is distinguished from other low-growing plants by its creeping square stems, opposite, long-stalked, rounded to kidney-shaped leaves with round or wavy teeth, prominent axillary blue to purplish flowers and strong, rather rancid, mint-like odour.

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Related Links

... on general Weed topics
... on weed identification, order OMAFRA Publication 505: Ontario Weeds
... on weed control, order OMAFRA Publication 75: Guide To Weed Control

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