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
- Fact Sheet with Description and Management Options (PDF)—USDA Forest Service
- Lawn Talk: Managing Ground Ivy and Violets in Lawns—University of Illinois Extension
- Ground Ivy Control for Home Lawns—Michigan State University Extension
- Creeping Charlie—University of Wisconsin Extension
More Information
- Weeds and Your Lawn—University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management
- Establishing a Home Lawn—University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Weed Herbarium: Ground Ivy—(aka creeping Charlie)—UMass Amherst
- Guide to Controlling Weeds in Cool Season Turf (PDF) —Maryland Cooperative Extension Home & Garden
- Cornell Turfgrass Program—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.]