Creeping Charlie—Glechoma hederacea

also known as Ground Ivy, Creeping Jenny, Gill–over–the–ground

A member of the mint family, this perennial herb spreads by seeds, rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) and creeping stems to form a dense mat in lawns and gardens. It thrives in moist, shady spots, such as under trees and shrubs, but will spread out into sunny sections of a lawn as well.


Stems are square. Leaves are bright green to dark green to purplish, and shiny, with palmate veins.	Roots grow from each leaf node, creeping along the soil surface.	Light blue to bluish-purple funnel-shaped flowers bloom from April to June. When the plant is crushed it produces a strong mint-like odor.

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Identification and Control Information (each will open in a new window)

Fact Sheet with Description and Management Options [PDF]—USDA Forest Service
Lawn Talk: Managing Ground Ivy and Violets in Lawns—University of Illinois Extension

More Information (each will open in a new window)

Weeds and Your Lawn—University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management
Establishing a Home Lawn—University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Guide to Controlling Weeds in Cool Season Turf [PDF]—Maryland Cooperative Extension Home & Garden
Managing Lawn Weeds—Cornell University
Read Your "Weeds"–A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn [PDF]—National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns

Weeds and Your Garden brochure [PDF]—New York State IPM Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension
Weed Management in the Home Garden [PDF]—Iowa State University Extension

[Photos, left to right: Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; Ohio State Weed Lab Archive, The Ohio State University, Bugwood.org; Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org.]

It is the policy of the State of Maine to minimize reliance on pesticides. The Maine Department of Agriculture and the Maine IPM Council encourage everyone to practice integrated pest management and to use pesticides only as a last resort. The mention of pesticides in the fact sheets linked to these pages does not imply an endorsement of any product. Be sure that any product used is currently registered and follow all label directions.

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Creeping Charlie—Glechoma hederacea

also known as Ground Ivy, Creeping Jenny, Gill–over–the–ground

Identification and Control Information (each will open in a new window)

More Information (each will open in a new window)

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