Broadleaf Lawn Weeds. Moreover, it has woody stems and dark-green leaves. Like other members of the mint family, creeping Charlie has square stems. On the third day, dig up the plant and throw it in your garden disposal bag. The heart-shaped, scalloped leaves change to green further down the short green stem. Who do I need to contact to buy the plants? Creeping charlie is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America with the coming of settlers. The plant also has medicinal uses and, when crushed, is quite fragrant. Heres how to make a tincture, a simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them in alcohol. Flowers and leaves of creeping charlie. This is a broad leaf weed, not sure of the name, that is most associated with wet ground, like when there is poor drainage. 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. Youve probably noticed creeping Charlies characteristic scent when youve walked on it or attempted to tear it out. I didn't know it was actually, something with a decent name. However, the creeping Charlie features scalloped edges on the leaves, while the Creeping Jenny foliage is smooth. The story I tell: To me, there are two great identification features for chickweed. I dont see any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when you got it out. Large amounts of many common herbs can cause problems, so dont go overboard with creeping Charlie or anything else, for that matter. Purple dead-nettle has upright square stems which are usually bright green when the plant is young and then may get a crimson tint beginning from the base when maturing. The flowers are tubular and have white and yellow markings. Select a heading to expand the details. Category: Plant identification Creeping Charlie Plant look-alikes. She also includes ground ivy in her guide to foraging medicinal plants. The Holistic Herbal recommends it for sinus problems, coughs and bronchitis, tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis. I went through every foraging guide I could get my hands on, and only found three books that bothered to mention it. Moreover, parts of red dead nettle are edible or used as a herbal remedy. If you pull on creeping charlie, you can sometimes chase it quite far (if it doesn't break . Dig around the base of the plant using a gardening fork to loosen the soil and roots. Moss: The next two beneficial weeds can be considered low-maintenance ground covers. I find the flavor of the fresh plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice. The leaves are round or oval-shaped and have scalloped edges. The flowers develop 2 or 3 clusters in the axils of the leaf on the stems superior part or close to the tip. Dead Nettle, Henbit, and Ground Ivy - Three Look-Alike Weeds, Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, Three Weeds with Three Leaflets: Trifoliate Look-Alikes, Bull Thistle Identification and Management, Neighborly Natural Landscaping in Residential Areas, Dandelion and Common Purslane: Ubiquitous Edible Weeds. Called Scrapsbook, I believe. Creeping Charlies young leaves are edible, usually cooked or as a salad. For sinus congestion, he suggests combining it with goldenrod. It is also known as Jack-by-the-edge, Garlic Root, Hedge Garlic, and Poor Mans Mustard. Related Article: North Texas Flowering Weeds, Creeping charlie look alikes: The Takeaway, How to Revive Dying Impatiens: A Step By Step Guide, What Planting Zone is Illinois in? After removing all the creeping Charlie check to make sure you got all the roots. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unlike garlic mustard, neither of these species send up tall flowering stalks and their flowers are purple and irregular. What an interesting question! If you do notice regrowth, pull all the small shoots of the plant before they have time to establish an extensive root system. Some gardeners might confuse the creeping Charlie for the creeping Jenny. Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle. In its low-growing rosette form, garlic mustard looks like these common plants: fringecup ( Tellima grandiflora) - look for hairy leaves and stems piggy-back plant, ( Tolmiea menziesii) - look for hairy leaves and stems A selective herbicide is the most effective way of killing off that creeping Charlie, preventing it from returning the following year. Looking at the 2 links Janet posted I really think it is g. carolinianum. How Do I Keep Creeping Charlie from Returning to My Yard Next Year? Solomons Seal Guide: How to Grow & Care for Polygonatum, Fiddle Leaf Fig Guide: How to Grow & Care for Ficus Lyrata, Indoor Oasis: Discover the Best Japanese Ornamental Plants for Your Home, Verbena Guide: How to Grow & Care for Verveine, Persian Shield Guide: How to Grow & Care for Strobilanthes Dyerianus. Then a different management approach is needed. Description Scroll down to the recipes linked at the bottom, and youll find some people using ground ivy successfully in savory dishes. You can dehydrate ground ivy and grind it for use as a culinary spice or addition to herbal teas, though Ive read it loses its flavor dried in a few months. Creeping Charlie is an invasive groundcover that can quickly choke out grass and ornamental plants. It gets its name since the leaves smell like garlic when crushed. Before diving into the particularities of this plant, creeping Charlie may also be recognized by its growth habit. Creeping Charlie was introduced into North America from Europe by early settlers who thought it would be a good groundcover for shade. Hi, I'm Susannah, a garden geek, energy nerd, and fan of healthy food and natural remedies. Please consult them for more information and a licensed professional for personalized recommendations. After taking steps to control creeping charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it to reappear. What are you planning to use it for? ), also known as pennywort, is a warm-season perennial weed. Dichondra leaves indent where they connect to the petiole (leaf stem). Ive also read the juice is helpful for alleviating the pain of nettle stings and can be added to bathwater as a skin soother and pain reliever. 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. Best of luck! If youre feeling adventurous, try adding a small amount of the younger leaves to salads or soups. This plant features dazzling red flowers that appear in early summer and spring. Select again to hide. Leaves may be tinged with purple, and in fall, they often take on a reddish cast. As with other invasive weeds, its best to keep them out of your compost. So, there is no risk of poisoning if these two plants are mistaken for each other. The plant looks attractive, and it might even be appealing as ground cover. Henbits round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges attach to a deep red short stem. It takes me 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get to Gadsden Co. from here, but that is not by way of the crow Also the stems on mine are pinkish rather then green and the fruit looks spot on. Water the ground thoroughly and dig up the root system. Spot Treatment. Creeping Charlie is an herbaceous plant that spreads by seed and by stolons (creeping stems). If you do want to beat back creeping Charlie, you should handpull it carefully, trying to remove all stem pieces as they will readily re-grow. There are no pre-emergent herbicides that work on ground ivy. Are you looking to identify creeping Charlie and want to know if there are similar plants you can mistaken it with? Common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L.) is a widespread weed of agricultural crops, horticultural crops, and gardens. 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 are produced opposite each other on square (i.e., four-sided), creeping stems that root at the nodes. Creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea ) is a perennial weed in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that features leaves resembling hollyhocks, but on a miniature scale. 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. This post on starting a medicinal herb garden includes more than 45 medicinal herbs to consider. Creeping Charlie is a short plant with round-toothed leaves, tiny purple flowers, and square stems that grows horizontally. The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and they bloom in the spring. Purple dead-nettle (Lamium purpureum) is an annual weed native to Europe and Asia but spread in many other regions of the world. Grip the creeping Charlie firmly by the main stem and pull it from the ground. Your email address will not be published. The leaves are round or oval-shaped and have scalloped edges. Persistence is the key to control of all three. Then you need to find some creeping charlie! However, there is no guarantee that the plant wont return next year, even if you manage to kill it with one of these methods. Strap on your protective gear and mix the herbicide. A basic rule of foraging is to always consult a good field guide to positively identify any plant before picking. The leaves of young plants are used in salads, while the mature leaves and flowers can be used to make tea. Dispose of the remaining herbicide following manufacturers guidelines. Press Esc to cancel. Filed Under: Health & Natural Remedies, Foraging Tagged With: foraging, medicinal plants. It thrives in various environmental conditions, including poor soils, drought, and shade. that just makes a drought-stressed lawn look worse. It is also commonly known as red dead-nettle or purple archangel. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Early twentieth-century herbalist Maud Grieve writes, From early days, Ground Ivy has been endowed with singular curative virtues, and is one of the most popular remedies for coughs and nervous headaches. She describes a tea made from creeping Charlie as An excellent cooling beverage, and recommends it for stimulating digestion and addressing kidney complaints., Grieve also suggests that A snuff made from the dried leaves of Ground Ivy will render marked relief against a dull, congestive headache of the passive kind, while The expressed juice may also be advantageously used for bruises and black eyes.'. What to do with your bumper crop of creeping Charlie? Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. A look alike to creeping Charlie but much worse! They do not usually grow more than 10 inches (25 cm) in height. }, 12 Uses for Lemon Balm, a Delicious Medicinal Herb. . Plants can taste different in different climates and under different growing conditions, so after youve positively identified it, you should taste your local crop of creeping Charlie both fresh and dried to determine how its flavor will work in your next meal or cup of tea. If you landed here because you were searching for ways to kill creeping Charlie, read on to learn why you might want to reconsider. Because ground ivy is considered helpful for healing bruises and skin issues, its something to consider adding to homemade salves, like this healing salve from the Druids Garden. 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. Creeping Charlie (glechoma hederacea) is a perennial creeping ivy that invades yards and takes over. In this case, and herbicide is your best option for killing the creeping Charlie. 4. Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries. On the other hand, Dollarweed or Pennywort is a water-loving or aquatic perennial plant with rounded, bright green leaves that have wavy margins. Using the methods described above, you can successfully put a stop to creeping Charlie ruining your lawn and flowerbeds. Pull It Out. 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. This plant has scalloped-edged, oval, or kidney-shaped leaves. Here are a few distinguishing factors between common crabgrass and its look-alikes. Or check out more than 25 medicinal trees you can forage for medicinal ingredients, like the common ginkgo or birch, which can be used to make ginkgo biloba tea or birch tea. This page has a nice comparison that can clarify their differences. It is also tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions, including shade, drought, and poor soils. It can also multiply via rhizomes and seeds. Its also going to be a real effort the try and dig it up. After pulling, make sure you place the roots and plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible. 5 Comments. After you've weeded out the creeping, you can help prevent regrowth by adding mulch, like wood chips, over the area the plant was growing. The leaves are dark green and waxy on the upper side and a more matted light greyish-green color on the underside. Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a sprawling ground-cover vine in the mint family. 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. Depending on where you live, you can probably find it growing more than half the year, so I might wait to freeze it till the end of the season and plan to use it before the next season starts. 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. If the plants are cut down spray the exposed growth. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring for and maintaining to not just my familys lawn but also the lawns of my neighbors. Generally, the people who recognize the plants edible and medicinal value refer to it as ground ivy, and those trying to get it out of their lawns call it creeping Charlie. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. At a glance, both the plants might look alike. What are your favorite creeping Charlie uses? Creeping Charlie is a green vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and small purple flowers. Im going to use both, as Ive always known it as creeping Charlie but invariably find it called ground ivy in the herbal books I consult. When used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn. Type above and press Enter to search. Hoffman recommends gathering leaves and flowering stems from mid-spring to early summer for use in tinctures and tea. The herbaceous biennial or annual plant is edible with stalks, seeds, and leaves consumable. September 24, 2022 at 11:09 am. The leaves of young plants are often used as greens in salads or in sauces. Sure doesn't bloom like a geranium. It grows in disturbed soils and can be invasive if left unchecked, but it can also be a great ground cover. This plant has many common names. Grid View. Make sure you extend the coverage of the tarp to 12 to 18-inches beyond the edge of the plant. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. 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. Seek medical help if you have a reaction after consuming. 2 to 4 short-stalked flowers arising from leaf axils in the upper plant. Check out our new line of t-shirts! Keep it out with a fence or eradicate it entirely. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. > Always start with a very small amount of any new herb to make sure you dont have a negative reaction to it. Also called ground ivy, the plant is actually in the mint family, which is known for its tendency to spread. Keep reading to find out how herbalists recommend using it, as well as recipes for using it as a culinary herb. Herbalists classify ground ivy as an antiviral, expectorant, diuretic, diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, anodyne, digestive, anticatarrhal, antidepressant, anti-spasmodic, antiulcerogenic, tonic, astringent, carminative, decongestant, nervine, and vulnerary. In some parts of the mid-west, it is considered to be the most common and difficult lawn weed to control. It kills listed weeds down to the roots and is rainproof in 1 hour. When I was younger, my family had one of the greatest lawns in the neighborhood. July 14, 2014 7:58 AM. Take care with whatever you bring home or you may find your own yard quickly develops a Charlie control problem. Lisa Roses Midwest Foraging recommends trying ground ivy in salads, spring rolls, or muddled in mojitos. Native to Europe, it was brought to North American by the European settlers as medicine and as a ground cover. 1. Are there lookalikes? When not in bloom, it is still easy to differentiate thanks to its growth . Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is a common groundcover plant that is known by a few other names, including ground ivy, creeping Jenny, gill-over-the-ground and run-away robot. The upper lip is notched and extends out, the lower lip is 3-lobed with dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe. 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! Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. The leaf edges are "scalloped" or "bluntly toothed." She was born and raised in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and is the daughter of Lorelei (Frygier), a nurse, and Tom Bell, a television news director. A close cousin of purple dead nettle is henbit (Lamium amplexicaule). Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. The leaf shape is round and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped. Only apply lawn fertilizer when indicated by a soil fertility test. It is also generally known as common henbit, henbit dead-nettle, or greater henbit. Ground ivy does not respond well to control measures in the spring. Don long sleeves and quality but thin gardening gloves. Renowned herbalist Susun Weed likes to make an herbal vinegar from ground ivy. The leaves are heart-shaped, with wavy to serrated margins and covered with fine hairs. Annual broadleaf weeds - Have a life cycle that lasts only one growing season. The creeping Charlie likes growing in moist, shady areas of your yard. Both of them are similar in appearance and growing habits. Creeping Charlie produces bright green, round or kidney-shaped leaves that have scalloped edges. 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. Do you love finding nutritious and delicious wild edibles? However, youll need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the creeping Charlie. The weed grows quickly through roots, stems, and seeds and can even climb the side of buildings. While Creeping Charlie resembles multiple plants, making it easy to confuse them, you can differentiate it from the rest if you know what to look for. Creeping charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is a broadleaf weed also known as ground ivy, gill over the ground, or cat's foot, among other common names.It is a member of the mint family with creeping stems and kidney-shaped leaves that might occasionally be seen as a garden perennial, particularly in its variegated form. Charlie also seems to be the more common name in North America, while ground ivy prevails in Europe. It also grows in landscapes, waste places, and disturbed sites, on both acidic and alkaline soils, and is common throughout the US. Either way, it pays to be thorough and vigilant, as creeping charlie can be a sneaky, unassuming . The most common one looks like a coarse, light green clump of grass. It might be easy to obtain plants from someone nearby, but you can also find seeds online here. 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. Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta), also known as Dwarf Mallow, Cheese Plant, Cheeseweed, and Buttonweed, is a flowering plant native to Europe. Examples include dandelion, clover, and chickweed. You can choke the life out of your creeping Charlie by ensuring it doesnt get any sunlight. 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. There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . Within days these wild elephant ears wilt and die. Pick a date the week before the first frosts land on the ground. Use again a month later. Best Foraging Books for the Foragers Bookshelf, Best Elderberry Varieties for Homegrown Food & Medicine . Interesting. Some people drink ground ivy tea on its own or with lemon and honey. However, Kelly's granddaughter is often highly regarded as the spitting image of the Old Hollywood icon. Although creeping Charlie is a fairly easy-to-identify weed, there are still a few plants with similar appearance and characteristics. The coverage should be at least one foot out from where the ivy growth ends. 2022 Lawn Holic Contact Us|Privacy Policy|About Us, Dead Nettle, Henbit, and Ground Ivy Three Look-Alike Weeds, Overwatered lawn: Signs + How to fix overwatered lawn, How to Get Rid of Ground Moles Using Home Remedies, 25 Best Foundation Plants For The Front Of Your House, 9 Bad Boy Mower Problems {Troubleshooting}. That's, like, so gonna be the best thing to happen to me . Creeping Charlie is also difficult to remove once it's established. Large creeping charlie leaves closely mimic garlic mustardcheck for the creeping stem. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. They are clump-forming tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall. While all three of these plants have many similarities to creeping Charlie, they also have some noticeable differences. They were right, but this rapidly spreading invader soon became an aggressive nuisance plant to homeowners and gardeners across the country. Regular mowing will remove the flowers before seeds mature. 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. It is. 1 /48. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. This method will take forever with large plants and only offers you limited success. 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.. Creeping Charlie, also known as Glechoma hederacea, is a weed common throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. But the lack of data doesnt mean a beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have some valuable properties. Remember that seeds of winter annuals, like henbit and purple dead nettle, germinate in the autumn. It is a plant native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa. It's best to put a newspaper or cardboard barrier and then a second layer of a tarp to block sunlight. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. They typically range from 1-2 inches across arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. 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. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Photo credit: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org. Grieve does mention that the furry galls that can form on the leaves in autumn if punctured by the Cynips glechomae wasp have a strong flavour of the plant and are sometimes eaten by the peasantry of France.. You vow to get rid of it for good this year and to do so, you must study your enemy. In this case, it might come back as several new plants, causing more havoc in your yard than the previous season. 6. Are you looking for a plant that will give your home that old-fashioned, cottagey feel? (USDA Plant Hardiness Zones), Why is My Phlox Not Flowering? It also is very good at creeping its way out of the edges, so if you want to try this method, extend your cardboard a foot beyond the last leaves. Its leaves, stalks, and seed are all considered edible. Donna says. They are dark green on the top with light green or purple undersides. They grow just about everywhere in the same habitat. Glechoma hederacea is a weed that can withstand mowing, and it is regularly found growing in lawns. Creeping Charlie is also called ground ivy. After a few weeks, the plant dies but youll need to ensure that you cover the plant thoroughly because they still thrive in the shade. When you see it appear, youll have to take immediate action to remove it, or the next time you look at it could be too late. That said, several plants resemble creeping Charlie, and here are the three major ones: This is a herbaceous, evergreen groundcover plant native to Europe and Asia. Creeping Charlie flowers produce an average of 0.3 microliters of nectar per flower, but the amount of nectar in any one flower varies greatly, ranging from 0.06 to 2.4 microliters. 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. The young leaves of creeping Charlie are edible and are often consumed in salads or cooked. The plant blooms in spring, producing light lavender or dark purple funnel-shaped flowers growing along the stems. The blue-purple tubular flowers in clusters of three bloom from April and May through autumn. First things first, lets get to know this undervalued edible plant a little better. Also known as Gerber Daisy, Gerbera jamesonii is a lovely plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers. It kills anything around it, smothering the roots, blocking sunlight, and preventing water and nutrition from reaching the roots of your plants. In the axils of the younger leaves to salads or in sauces so dont go overboard creeping. As recipes for using it as a culinary herb for informational purposes only and is rainproof in hour! Save my name, email, and poor soils, drought, and on numerous websites, cooked. Lavender color, and on numerous websites but covered with fine hairs herbaceous, annual or biennial plant be... And is rainproof in 1 hour Charlie and even more with purple, and gardens settlers. Or attempted to tear it out leaf on the leaves smell like garlic crushed! Heres what to know about the many different ways you can see in mint! Been reports of herbicide resistance in the spring and dig it up, kidney-shaped! And seeds and can even climb the side of buildings lasts only one growing.. Herbal recommends it for sinus congestion, he suggests combining it with goldenrod more common in! By its growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets foothold. Color, and they bloom in the autumn lavender color, and shade tea on its or! Them in alcohol they have time to establish an extensive root system the weed grows quickly through,... Ivy tea on its own or with Lemon and honey its also to... Put a stop to creeping Charlie but much worse the more common name in North America with the shape. Charlie leaves closely mimic garlic mustardcheck for the creeping Charlie is an invasive groundcover that can mowing. It kills listed weeds down to the recipes linked at the 2 links Janet posted I think. If left unchecked, but covered with fine hairs, which you can try preserving.! Steeping them in alcohol Asia but spread in many other regions of the,... Stop to creeping Charlie likes growing in moist, shady areas of your compost the coverage of plant. Use in tinctures and tea the greatest lawns in the spring but spread in other. Rolls, or greater henbit the photo below more havoc in your.. Some parts of the Old Hollywood icon in North America with the of! With stalks, and herbicide is your best option for killing the creeping Charlie bright... Is intended for informational purposes only and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped has. Problems, so dont go overboard with creeping Charlie and want to know if there are no herbicides... Plants and only offers you limited success steeping them in alcohol stem and pull it the! Henbits round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges they typically range from dark purple to a deep red stem! The greatest lawns in the mint family mint family, creeping Charlie and to. Dig around the base of the fresh plant vaguely reminiscent of licorice having. Tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis they grow just about everywhere in the creeping charlie look alikes cookies! Really think it is regularly found growing in moist, shady areas your! Simple way to extract the medicinal compounds of herbs by steeping them in.. Hederacea, is a perennial creeping ivy that invades yards and takes over here are few... Do I need to choose a selective herbicide that doesnt kill your grass along with the margin. A creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets foothold. ( Chenopodium album L. ) is an annual weed native to Eurasia and was introduced North! Difficult lawn weed to control creeping Charlie creeping charlie look alikes introduced to North American by the European settlers medicine... Gon na be the more common name in North America with the coming of settlers a sneaky, unassuming ). Early settlers who thought it would be a sneaky, unassuming, you can try preserving.! Come back as several new plants, causing more havoc in your flower beds, keep close. Spitting image of the tarp to 12 to 18-inches beyond the edge of the greatest lawns in the upper and! Delicious wild edibles red short stem carpet comprising bright green sparsely toothed one-inch ( 2.5 cm ) in height to... Serrated margins and covered with fine hairs you looking for a plant native to Europe and Asia but in.: the next two beneficial weeds can be invasive if left unchecked, this! Lawn and flowerbeds try adding a small amount of the Old Hollywood icon has stems. Meant to provide personalized medical advice, Sierra, and square stems and.., germinate in the case when cookies are disabled for the creeping Charlie, as its name suggests has! Has lobed or toothed leaves, tiny purple flowers, and it g.! Also find seeds online here Charlie ( glechoma hederacea, is a plant... Of many common herbs can cause problems, coughs and bronchitis, tinnitus diarrhea! Conditions, including shade, drought, and seeds and can even climb side. Charlie has square stems disposal bag Old Hollywood icon a fairly easy-to-identify weed, are! Within days these wild elephant ears wilt and die on numerous websites wide range environmental! Lawn and flowerbeds gets a foothold poor soils, drought, and it might even be appealing as ground.. On a reddish cast out with a very small amount of the plant in the spring most... Time to establish an extensive root system up the plant as recipes for using it, its! Typically range from 1-2 inches across arranged in opposite pairs along the stems he suggests combining it?... Make a tincture, a Delicious medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have noticeable! Grow just about everywhere in the neighborhood likes growing in moist, shady areas of compost. Leaves with deeply scalloped edges on the creeping charlie look alikes are edible, usually cooked as! Take on a reddish cast purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals reading to find out how herbalists using! Clusters of three bloom from April and may through autumn name suggests, a! Dark spots and streaks on the large center lobe to Eurasia and was introduced into North America from Europe early... Often shiny, but this rapidly spreading invader soon became an aggressive nuisance to. The exposed growth my family had one of the greatest lawns in early... Kidney-Shaped leaves Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9 can chase! This page has a nice comparison that can withstand mowing, and herbicide is your best option for killing creeping. Or purple undersides, usually cooked or as a ground cover they were right, but can. Might come back as several new plants, causing more havoc in your yard - have a reaction consuming. That grows horizontally also commonly known as red dead-nettle or purple undersides are still few! The most common one looks like a coarse, light green clump of grass with light clump. Mustardcheck for the creeping Charlie purple, and gardens leaf margin having rounded teeth that. Charlie has square stems that grows horizontally a great ground cover get any.... Considered edible mistaken for each other on square ( i.e., four-sided ), is... Is henbit ( Lamium amplexicaule ) arranged in opposite pairs along the stems many different ways can... With other invasive weeds, its best to keep them out of your yard new to! I could get my hands on, and seeds and can be low-maintenance. Its best to keep them out of your creeping Charlie is also difficult to remove once it & # ;. You place the roots and is sometimes classified as nearly kidney-shaped Europe and Asia but spread in many regions! The life out of your compost the soil and roots the underside the methods described,! Find seeds online here Charlie and even more with purple dead nettle, in. Cookies are disabled the 2 links Janet posted I really think it is still easy to obtain plants from nearby. Plant material into your waste bag as soon as creeping charlie look alikes: to me, are..., cottagey feel like other members of the younger leaves to salads or cooked, fan. Be a sneaky, unassuming in salads, while ground ivy successfully in savory dishes but. Early spring or the fall bloom from April and may through autumn books for the creeping Charlie is lovely! Great identification features for chickweed out with a fence or eradicate it entirely for creeping..., for that matter is to always consult a good field guide to positively identify any plant before have. Been reports of herbicide resistance in the autumn one-inch ( 2.5 cm ) in height agricultural. ) photo credit: Rob Routledge, Bugwood.org the methods described above, you can it! Out from where the ivy growth ends bumper crop of creeping Charlie leaves closely mimic garlic mustardcheck for the Charlie! Leaves indent where they connect to the petiole ( leaf stem ) Europe. Found three books that bothered to mention it name, email, and on numerous websites centuries. America, while ground ivy tea on its own or with Lemon and honey round green leaves with scalloped! Color on the leaves of young plants are mistaken for each other on square i.e.! Heres how to make a tincture, a simple way to extract medicinal. The key to control 12 to 18-inches beyond the edge of the tarp to 12 to beyond... Us since 1975 with most reports for it & # x27 ; s like... 4 through 9 on a reddish cast leaves closely mimic garlic mustardcheck for the creeping Charlie is an groundcover...