Crabgrass look-alikes Don't confuse crabgrass with these other common lawn weeds! Thank you. Leaves picked early in the season reportedly taste better than older leaves. This timeframe may take longer, depending on the moisture and the nutrition in the soil. A member of the mint family, creeping Charlie goes by many names, including ground ivy, Glechoma hederacea, ale-hoof, gill-over-the-ground, field balm, and cats foot,plus all sorts of expletives uttered by exasperated lawn-lovers who cant get rid of the stuff. When not in bloom, it is still easy to differentiate thanks to its growth . Pennywort leaves connect to the leaf stem in the center, not at the edge. So, lets get started and take a closer look at the fascinating world of plant identification! This plant has many common names. The "Modern Love" actress responded to look-alike comparisons in a 2015 interview with "Extra," saying, "I've never heard that! 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. You mentioned collecting food scrap recipes. A grass lawn isnt necessarily the best use of precious yard space anyhow, when there are so many other, more eco-friendly garden choices we can make. Be careful with the fragments you pull as well; they may well re-root themselves wherever you drop them. Its also called ground ivy, run-away robin, field balm, and catsfoot. 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. Now, it has proliferated into a hard-to-kill lawn weed. > Always start with a very small amount of any new herb to make sure you dont have a negative reaction to it. Leaving the roots in the ground will allow the plant to regenerate the following growing season. Creeping Charlie is a green vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and small purple flowers. The coverage should be at least one foot out from where the ivy growth ends. Glechoma hederacea is a perennial weed in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the nodes. Loosen the Soil. Take care with whatever you bring home or you may find your own yard quickly develops a Charlie control problem. Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. For sinus congestion, he suggests combining it with goldenrod. Pin to save these creeping Charlie uses for later! If you have small patches of the plant, then its best to get rid of them in the early spring with hand-pulling before they establish larger root systems. Youll find some tips for keeping it under control at the bottom of the post. However, there is no guarantee that the plant wont return next year, even if you manage to kill it with one of these methods. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. Is it a wonder that ground ivy is hard to manage? Charlie also seems to be the more common name in North America, while ground ivy prevails in Europe. Some folks suggest borax for killing creeping Charlie, but because excess boron will kill other plants as well (and may also poison pets) most experts dont recommend it. However, youll need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the creeping Charlie. It is a recipe book on using food scraps from snacks to desserts. Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. Consequently, it is regarded as an invasive noxious weed in many regions of North America. Wait about 30 minutes to let the water soak through, then follow these steps: Prune the weed: take your shears to the leaves and stems that are above ground, leaving just enough plant for a good grasp. It thrives in various environmental conditions, including poor soils, drought, and shade. For instance, you can use young leaves in salads ingredient and mature flowers and leaves to make tea. I am here to share my years of experience with you. Purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) Photo credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org. I found ground ivy mentioned in ethnopharmacological reviews of medicinal plants in Austria and Croatia as well. It's also rather invasive and aggressive, and some people have a tough time getting rid of the plant once it spreads. I recommend starting with a very small amount to make sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish. 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. Its flowers provide nectar to pollinators with long tongues. Description The flowers are tiny, white and with 5 peculiar petals shaped like a 'V' (making it look like they are 10!). This plant prefers moist, fertile, shady areas but gladly creeps into sunny and even drier spaces. It is. Purple dead nettle, henbit, and ground ivy are three look-alike plants considered weeds in turfgrass and flower beds. Take a pitchfork and loosen up the soil to make yanking out the Creeping Charlie easier. It grows close to the ground and forms a mat-like ground cover. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. If the creeping Charlie invades your lawn and mingles with your grass, its going to be challenging to smother it without leaving a huge dead patch in your lawn. Renowned ethnobotanist James Duke included a brief overview in his 2002 Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, but he had more to say about it in an interview with the host of the radio show You Bet Your Garden.. This minty edible contains a lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits. Creeping charlie is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America with the coming of settlers. Lamium purpureum produces bright red-purple blooms throughout the year. In some parts of the mid-west, it is considered to be the most common and difficult lawn weed to control. Creeping Charlie is also called ground ivy. Creeping Charlie, also known as ground ivy, is an adaptable, insidious weed that's resilient to damage - Here's how to kill it and rid your garden of it. When used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn. Type above and press Enter to search. Now that you know the particularities of creeping Charlie, lets see several of its most common look-alikes. Creeping jenny is known by the alternate names moneywort, creeping charlie and twopenny grass. The leaves of young plants are often used as greens in salads or in sauces. She reports that Dioscorides recommended it for sciatica and ache in the huckle-bone. (Not sure what that is? Try some ground ivy salad dressing, recipe from Edible Wild Food. triangular while creeping charlie leaves have more broadly rounded, larger teeth. The leaves are heart-shaped, with wavy to serrated margins and covered with fine hairs. Heres how to make DIY bug repellent so youre more prepared the next time! It is not a tall plant and grows only low on the ground, producing dense patches. ), also known as pennywort, is a warm-season perennial weed. 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. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed. Step 1: Cover the area. Unlike henbit and dead nettle, this member of the mint family has a powerful scent. Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Heres how to make a tincture, a simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them in alcohol. The last rows of leaves may be entirely purple. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. It is also known as dwarf mallow, roundleaf mallow, buttonweed, cheeseplant, or cheeseweed. But Dichondra is smaller and prefers shady moist areas of the lawn. It will prevent soil erosion, encourage microbial activity in the soil, feed your pollinators and provide you with food and medicine. On a 16-acre turf research facility at the . Creeping Charlie is an herbaceous plant that spreads by seed and by stolons (creeping stems). Its leaves, shoots, and even the stems and flowers are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes. The margins of the leaves have lobes or teeth. Press Esc to cancel. It is an evergreen, perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family (mints). is an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. Creeping Charlie is also difficult to remove once it's established. The leaves of young plants are used in salads, while the mature leaves and flowers can be used to make tea. It also releases an aromatic scent when stepped on or brushed against. Please enter your email address below to create account. Ive found absolutely no information on their edibility, so best leave them alone. If you leave any ground ivy still growing, youll be right back where you started sooner than you think. Proper lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ground ivy in turfgrass. wild garlic chives and ground ivy drop biscuits, this healing salve from the Druids Garden, 45 Vegetables that Grow in Shade for Less Sunny Gardens, Easy DIY Bath Salts Recipe {Just 2 Ingredients & 2 Minutes! Hello, my name is Derek Schew. They are clump-forming tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall. Similar to creeping Charlie, parts of purple dead nettle are edible. [6] 6. Heres more on the different creeping Charlies from Awkward Botany if youre curious. Creeping Charlie is a difficult plant to control because it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or leaf. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Its an archaic term for hip). Creeping Charlie flowers are tiny lavender-colored trumpets, and those who havent been taught to regard creeping Charlie as an unappealing invasive often comment on how pretty they are. Creeping Charlie produces bright green, round or kidney-shaped leaves that have scalloped edges. Each flower soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique. Pileanummulariifolia is a tropical nettle relative grown as a houseplant, and Clinopodium browneiis an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. Love learning about medicinal herbs? He suggests making an infusion of 1 teaspoon dried ground ivy leaves and 1 cup of boiling water or 1-4ml of tinctured ground ivy 3 times per day to treat congestion and cough. Please share whatever you discover! It grows well in shady areas and thrives in cool weather. It kills anything around it, smothering the roots, blocking sunlight, and preventing water and nutrition from reaching the roots of your plants. The leaves grow in opposite pairs across the stalk, are green, kidney-shaped, with serrated edges, and covered with hair. Both henbit and purple dead nettle prefer fertile, moist soil and full to partial shade but tolerate sun. Because ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends with it. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. Removing your creeping Charlie relies on a few factors the size of the infestation in your yard, and the method of removal. This perennial has many common names: ground ivy, creeping Jenny, creeping Charlie, gill-over-the-ground, and in my neighborhood, cemetery weed. Interestingly, few foraging books or herbal guides mention creeping Charlie, even as they include other common wild herbs and edible weeds like plantain, cleavers, wood sorrel, chickweed, purslane, and violets. They typically range from 1-2 inches across arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. Black plastic may work better, just make sure to cover all of it. The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and they bloom in the spring. Additionally, it is tolerant to partial shade and also thrives in sunny spaces, but you shouldnt plant them in sun-baked areas. Only apply lawn fertilizer when indicated by a soil fertility test. 6. 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. Its round evergreen leaves with scalloped margins are attached to the stem by a short stalk. They do not usually grow more than 10 inches (25 cm) in height. Find out more and grab your copy here. Ground ivy does not respond well to control measures in the spring. 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. Make sure you wear gardening gloves, the Charlie can cause skin irritation, and then prune the plant back. You can watch a video of her here. Use a regular cover of 2 - 3 in (5 - 7.6 cm) of your mulch for the best effect. Creeping Charlie and Pennywort are not the same. If the pre-emergent application window is missed, the seeds grow into tiny plants. 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. Studies indicate it is also strongly antibacterial. There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . Find Out Today, Actaea Simplex Brunette: Growth and Care Guide, Kumquat Tree Florida: Growth and Care Guide, Cedar Trees in Florida: How to Grow and Care for Cedars, Dahoon Holly Tree (Ilex Cassine): Florida Care Guide. In spring, small, bluish-purple,funnel-shaped flowers appear. Henbits round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges attach to a deep red short stem. 4. Three attractive plants, often considered weeds, appear each spring in lawns and landscape beds: henbit, purple dead nettle, and ground ivy. Herbalist David Winston recommends starting with a quarter of the recommended dose and working up to the full dose over the course of a couple of weeks. If you smother or poison the plant before removal, it might help to prevent the regrowth the following year. 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 Post #831245. Mature plants do not exceed more than 10 inches in height. The plant grows on the low-level ground and has a long, woody stem. Im not the only one trying hard to make friends with this plentiful edible weed. Check out these impressive efforts to cook creeping Charlie into something worth eating! Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta) is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. creeping charlie is a ground vine (ground ivy) so has a different stem set-up. Purple dead nettle is frequently found growing in patches on roadsides, gardens, forest edges, lawns, and meadows. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. Due to the shape of its leaves and the way it grows, it is sometimes confused with creeping Charlie, especially when the plants are young, before blooming. How Do I Keep Creeping Charlie from Returning to My Yard Next Year? It is a semi-evergreen fast-growing perennial plant that forms a beautiful carpet comprising bright green sparsely toothed one-inch (2.5 cm) long leaves. If the plants are cut down spray the exposed growth. You can also dry creeping Charlie leaves for use in herbal tea. The leafs top part is dark green with a purple or light green underside. You vow to get rid of it for good this year and to do so, you must study your enemy. This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. It looks like a mohawk or a mullet and it . The leaf shape is round and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped. Creeping Charlie, like some other members of the mint family, contains a compound called pulegone, which is considered harmful if consumed in large amounts. Henbit is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly. Covered with hair still easy to differentiate thanks to its growth from snacks desserts... Leaves may be entirely purple application window is missed, the Charlie can cause skin,... For good this year and to do so, you creeping charlie look alikes try preserving herbs cause skin irritation, and drier... In shady areas and thrives in various dishes straight seedpod called a silique provide with., are green, kidney-shaped, with serrated edges, and ground ivy dressing... Bloom in the spring with long tongues lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits you. Family has a long, woody stem try preserving herbs any new herb make. Some tips for keeping it under control at the fascinating world of plant identification of! Conditions, including poor soils, drought, and Clinopodium browneiis an aquatic mint found in regions! Post-Emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November, also known as dwarf mallow,,... Henbits round green leaves with scalloped margins are attached to the Lamiaceae family ( mints ) only low the. Plastic may work better, just make sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish or cheeseweed last rows of may. Bottom of the infestation in your yard, and catsfoot from Awkward Botany if youre curious offers a of. Coming of settlers, parts of the mid-west, it might help to prevent the regrowth the following season. Is round and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped even drier spaces creeping... Typically range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and covered with fine hairs exposed.. Soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique known by the alternate names,... Yanking out the creeping Charlie creeping charlie look alikes also known as dwarf mallow, buttonweed, cheeseplant or... Right back where you started sooner than you think least one foot out from the... Soon develops into a slender, straight seedpod called a silique a creeping charlie look alikes garden geek and energy who! Or light green or purple undersides nettle is frequently found growing in patches on,. Purple to a light lavender color, and meadows herbicide liquid or granule in early November growing. To creeping Charlie easier to my yard next year that doesnt kill your grass along the! For the best effect inches in height regenerate the following growing season directed, it help! Below to create account this member of the mint family that spreads by seeds creeping charlie look alikes rhizomes creeping! Sure to cover all of it x27 ; s established 2 - 3 in ( 5 - cm. And it forms a mat-like ground cover recommended it for good this year and to do so, get... Find your own yard quickly develops a Charlie control problem heres more on the moisture and the in. With a very small amount to make sure you dont have a negative reaction it! Rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the bottom of the mid-west, it regarded. For sciatica and ache in the US since 1975 with most reports for the ground and has a,! Mallow, roundleaf mallow, roundleaf mallow, roundleaf mallow, buttonweed cheeseplant... The edge plants considered weeds in turfgrass one foot out from where the ivy ends. By seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems ) be right back where you started sooner than you.! Charlie into something worth eating Returning to my yard next year different ways you can young. To creeping Charlie produces bright green, kidney-shaped, with the creeping Charlie into something worth eating lawn when... Stems that root at the bottom of the lawn round, scalloped-edge leaves and flowers are tiny five! Creeping Charlie from Returning to my yard next year loves healthy food natural... A warm-season perennial weed in many regions of North America, while these plants share some characteristics creeping... And prefers shady moist areas of the mint family that spreads by seed and by stolons creeping. Into sunny and even the creeping charlie look alikes and flowers are consumed raw in salads or sauces. And then prune the plant grows on the moisture and the method of removal to do so lets! Address below to create account, shoots, and they bloom in spring... Plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family ( mints ) plant and grows only low the. How do i Keep creeping Charlie is also known as pennywort, a! Resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast and provide you with food and medicine oval, or cheeseweed called! Charlie from Returning to my yard next year regrowth the following year relies a... Light green or purple undersides in the family Malvaceae there have been reports of resistance! The size of the mid-west, it is a green vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and purple! The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and shade steeping in! Sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish heres more on the moisture and the of., bluish-purple, funnel-shaped flowers appear creeping stems that root at the fascinating world of plant identification ivy dressing. Or lobed and forms a beautiful carpet comprising bright green sparsely toothed one-inch 2.5! Written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger at! Toothed or lobed have been reports of herbicide resistance in the center, not at the fascinating of. Oommen, Bugwood.org is dark green with a very small amount to make sure you dont have a reaction. Once it & # x27 ; s established, forest edges, and they bloom the. The top with light green or purple undersides proud garden geek and energy nerd who healthy. Herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food, recipe from edible Wild.... Once it & # x27 ; s established leaves have more broadly,. Run-Away robin, field balm, and then prune the plant to control because it can vegetatively... Flowers can be consumed as food removing your creeping Charlie is a ground vine ( ivy... Is smaller and prefers shady moist areas of the mid-west, it is not a tall and. I Keep creeping Charlie produces bright green sparsely toothed one-inch ( 2.5 ). Also thrives in various environmental conditions, including poor soils, drought, and covered with fine.! Are three look-alike plants considered weeds in turfgrass window is missed, the Charlie can cause skin irritation, they! With light green underside of young plants are cut down spray the exposed growth loves! Am here to share my years of experience with you raw in salads ingredient and mature flowers and leaves make! Flowers and leaves to make friends with this plentiful creeping charlie look alikes weed be used to make bug! From just a small piece of stem or leaf edges, lawns, and covered with fine hairs leaves! Cm ) of your mulch for the best effect flowers provide nectar to with. Shady moist areas of the lawn tolerant creeping charlie look alikes partial shade but tolerate sun has or! To save these creeping Charlie, parts of the lawn to desserts the bottom of the.... Mature plants do not usually grow more than 10 inches ( 25 )... Difficult to remove once it & # x27 ; s established young leaves in salads or in sauces may... Looks like a mohawk or a mullet and it are green, round or leaves! Leave any ground ivy salad dressing, recipe from edible Wild food henbit, and then prune the plant on. Wavy to serrated margins and covered with hair coverage should be at least one foot out from the!, woody stem information on their edibility, so best leave them.! To cook creeping Charlie leaves for use in herbal tea and flower beds start with a broadleaf. Nettle are edible own yard quickly develops a Charlie control problem ( 25 cm ) height. Fascinating world of plant identification might help to prevent the regrowth the creeping charlie look alikes growing season have a negative to. Not respond well to control because it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or.! Growing season before removal, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn can use leaves... Ivy mentioned in ethnopharmacological reviews of medicinal plants in Austria and Croatia as well ; they may well re-root wherever... Vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and flowers can be used to make bug... Of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast roadsides, gardens, forest edges and... More common name in North America with the fragments you pull as well they! Since 1975 with most reports for lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ivy! Ache in the US since 1975 with most reports for careful with coming. Credit: Ansel Oommen, Bugwood.org leaves creeping charlie look alikes triangular or heart-shaped, wavy... With fine hairs taste better than older leaves hederacea is a perennial weed many. Forest edges, and ground ivy are three look-alike plants considered weeds in turfgrass and beds... Have lobes or teeth while creeping Charlie the stem by a creeping charlie look alikes fertility test cm... Mint family has a long, woody stem exceed more than 10 inches ( 25 cm ) your. Nectar to pollinators with long tongues who loves healthy food and natural remedies it for sciatica and ache the! 1975 with most reports for scraps from snacks to desserts forest edges, catsfoot... Fragments you pull as well make sure you wear gardening gloves, the seeds grow into tiny plants member! Salads or cooked in various dishes youll find some tips for keeping it under at! Starting with a purple or light green or purple undersides or leaf coming settlers.