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. Glechoma hederacea is a weed that can withstand mowing, and it is regularly found growing in lawns. For culinary purposes, try using the youngest leaves or the tiny flowers. Press Esc to cancel. It can also multiply via rhizomes and seeds. Both of them are similar in appearance and growing habits. They do not usually grow more than 10 inches (25 cm) in height. The creeping Charlie lookalikes discussed above can also offer great ground cover. 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. Similar to Creeping Charlie, purple deadnettle is difficult to control because it can reproduce vegetatively from just a small piece of stem or leaf. Now, it has proliferated into a hard-to-kill lawn weed. However, it requires more maintenance compared to mazus reptans. Scroll down to the recipes linked at the bottom, and youll find some people using ground ivy successfully in savory dishes. Corn gluten meal is an organic option to apply in late summer. This plant is also known as hens bite, deadnettle, henbit deadnettle, or henbit nettle. Lawn Weed Identification - Three Weed Groups. Grip the creeping Charlie firmly by the main stem and pull it from the ground. This plant is commonly found in semi-shaded or shaded environments, typically under trees. Like other members of the mint family, creeping Charlie has square stems. They are clump-forming tender perennials that bloom up to 4 feet tall. The stems often branch from the base and can sometimes grow upright. 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. Creeping Charlie, as its name suggests, has a creeping growth habit, forming dense mats of runners wherever it gets a foothold. The margins of the leaves have lobes or teeth. Grid View. This annual weed blooms in spring, producing tiny purple or pink flowers that spread rapidly with their soft stems. 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. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. I look forward to purple dead nettle (Lamium purpureum) each April. Find out more and grab your copy here. 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. The young leaves of creeping Charlie are edible and are often consumed in salads or cooked. They typically range from 1-2 inches across arranged in opposite pairs along the stem. The flowers are tiny, white and with 5 peculiar petals shaped like a 'V' (making it look like they are 10!). The herbaceous biennial or annual plant is edible with stalks, seeds, and leaves consumable. This minty edible contains a lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits. But the lack of data doesnt mean a beloved medicinal herb with centuries of folk use doesnt have some valuable properties. Also known as red deadnettle or the purple archangel, purple deadnettle is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly by sending out runners (or stolons), just like Creeping Charlie. Required fields are marked *. Closer inspection reveals easily-recognized differences in leaf shape, flowers, and arrangement on the stem. Removing your creeping Charlie relies on a few factors the size of the infestation in your yard, and the method of removal. It earned its name because its sprawling stems resemble the legs of a crab. You can allow it to colonize some spots, but try to keep it from taking over all the other plants you prize in your yard! 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. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Pin to save these creeping Charlie uses for later! What are you planning to use it for? Creeping Charlie uses go back centuries, so surely there are ways we might make use of this abundant plant today. I think unlike the bland and also early Virginia waterleaf, creeping Charlie might be truly revolting in a frittata, but I havent dared to try. Its leaves, shoots, and even the stems and flowers are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes. Ground ivy is a weed that I hear about every spring. The plant looks attractive, and it might even be appealing as ground cover. Spot Treatment. The leaves of young plants are used in salads, while the mature leaves and flowers can be used to make tea. Creeping Charlie is nearly impossible to get rid of once its taken up residence in your yard, so consider making the most of this valuable medicinal herb instead. Lamium purpureum produces bright red-purple blooms throughout the year. If you want to remove your creeping Charlie using an herbicide, make sure you do this in the fall, and well before the plant has a chance to seed. 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. Also called ground ivy, this aggressive creeping lawn weed has shallow roots and pulls out easily from the ground. It is also known as dwarf mallow, roundleaf mallow, buttonweed, cheeseplant, or cheeseweed. Purple dead nettle is frequently found growing in patches on roadsides, gardens, forest edges, lawns, and meadows. 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. Henbits round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges attach to a deep red short stem. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Creeping Charlie isnt a nettle. Oxalis has more of a heart shaped leaf, whereas clover's leaf is more oval shaped. Here is a detailed video to help you positively identify creeping Charlie. I dont see any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when you got it out. Creeping Charlie is a difficult to control lawn weed. Creeping Charlie is also known as ground ivy and gill-on-the-ground, and is often confused with henbit. I draw on numerous sources, some of which are linked above. 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 also blooms in early summer or late spring. I just went and got a leaf. Your email address will not be published. [6] 6. Control henbit and dead nettle with a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide liquid or granule in early November. Check out our new line of t-shirts! 838,276 Views. Here are numerous other ground cover herbs to consider. Step 1: Cover the area. When the plant dries, and the foliage turns brown, its dead and ready for pulling from the ground. Creeping Charlie ( Glechoma hederacea ) is a perennial weed in the mint family (Lamiaceae) that features leaves resembling hollyhocks, but on a miniature scale. 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. Source: elnudomolesto. The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and they bloom in the spring. Also known as Gerber Daisy, Gerbera jamesonii is a lovely plant with red flowers that look like sunflowers. Best of luck! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Type above and press Enter to search. Moreover, parts of red dead nettle are edible or used as a herbal remedy. Love learning about medicinal herbs? Henbit has common features with creeping Charlie, such as the shape of its leaves and its flowers. This plant has many common names. Do not apply borax (boron), as this chemical does not control ground ivy. Here are three plants that will give you the same look. 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. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled. Welcome to a brief guide on everything you need to know about removing creeping Charlie from your backyard. Glechoma hederacea is a perennial weed in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the nodes. Either way, it pays to be thorough and vigilant, as creeping charlie can be a sneaky, unassuming . Heres what to know about the many different ways you can try preserving herbs. Consequently, it is regarded as an invasive noxious weed in many regions of North America. ), also known as pennywort, is a warm-season perennial weed. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and has been a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Dont leave any of the plants behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie. There have been reports of herbicide resistance in the US since 1975 with most reports for . Common Mallow (Malva Neglecta) is a flowering plant in the family Malvaceae. It has a very similar leaf shape with distinct venation, but they are borne from a vine rather than a basal rosette, and its purple flowers look nothing like mustard flowers. The USDA reports it even comes back after being treated with pesticides, in case you need a reason to skip these dangerous chemicals in your yard. Ground moles can wreak havoc on your lawn, leaving unsightly mounds and tunnels in their wake.. Pull It Out. At best, spring herbicidal treatments suppress it. Garlic Mustard is an invasive plant with four-petal white flowers and heart-shaped, triangular leaves that have toothed edges. The plants in the nettle family have single, hairy, erect stalks, square stems, and heart-shaped leaves with serrated edges and pointed tips. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. This weed is common pasture grass in some areas, so if you are buying . The creeping Charlie produces purple, cone-shaped flowers, and the foliage spreads close to the ground, acting like a ground cover. 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. 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. It grows close to the ground and forms a mat-like ground cover. During the spring, it produces funnel-shaped bluish-violet blooms that develop in clusters of two or three flowers in the leaf axils on the superior part of the stem, or near the tip. The leaves are produced opposite each other on square (i.e., four-sided), creeping stems that root at the nodes. What are your favorite creeping Charlie uses? Got it? Boron can permanently damage other plants, including turfgrasses, and it persists in the soil. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and have scalloped edges. Ground ivy does not respond well to control measures in the spring. Henbit is a low-growing plant that spreads rapidly. Glechoma hederacea is native to Eurasia and was introduced to North America and other parts of the world as a medicinal or ornamental plant, used occasionally as a groundcover. 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. Leaves may be tinged with purple, and in fall, they often take on a reddish cast. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. The Holistic Herbal recommends it for sinus problems, coughs and bronchitis, tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids and cystitis. Creeping Charlie, also known as Glechoma hederacea, is a weed common throughout U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9. Creeping Charlie, ground ivy, gill-on-the-ground, creeping Jenny - it doesn't matter what name you call it, this is a weed that's difficult to control. What does Creeping Charlie look like? Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries. HealthyGreenSavvy is committed to protecting your privacy. But Dichondra is smaller and prefers shady moist areas of the lawn. However, the leaves arent glossy like Creeping Charlie leaves. She suggests seeking leaves with no visible dirt as washing doesnt do much to remove it from the tiny hairs but does remove much of the flavor. 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. 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 plant can quickly take over an area, crowding out other plants. For more information on herbicides to remove dead nettle and henbit, see Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Dead Nettle and Henbit - A Common Winter Annual. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. Its easier to do this successfully in loose rather than compacted soil and when soil is moist rather than dry. Look it up and see if you agree that's what it is before you try it. But it's actually pretty, covered in purple flowers. is an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. If you love experimenting with inventive ways to use wild plants, be sure to check out this post covering garlic mustard recipes! You have won the battle but not the war. It gets its name since the leaves smell like garlic when crushed. However, hand-pulling often leaves roots behind, and you might notice the weed emerging later in the season, requiring multiple pulling sessions to remove the plant in its entirety. Creeping Charlie is a perennial weed that was brought to North America by early European settlers to be used as ground cover. Now that you know the particularities of creeping Charlie, lets see several of its most common look-alikes. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. 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. Creeping Charlie vaguely resembles purple dead nettle (Lamiumpurpureum) or henbit (Lamium amplexicaule), which are both also members of the mint family. The leaves grow in opposite pairs across the stalk, are green, kidney-shaped, with serrated edges, and covered with hair. Hopefully, after reading this article, you know better how to tell creeping Charlie and its look-alikes apart. On a 16-acre turf research facility at the . Select again to hide. Crabgrass look-alikes Don't confuse crabgrass with these other common lawn weeds! Persian speedwell (used medicinally, but reportedly barely edible) and ponyfoot (edible, though some find it bland) are other plants with somewhat similar characteristics as ground ivy, though again, if you compare photos and descriptions, theyre easily told apart. Henbit is native to North Africa, Europe, and western Asia but also grows in North America today. LOOK-ALIKES Several white-flowered native plants occur in the same habitats as garlic mustard and may be mistaken for it., The flowers have a unique strategy for rewarding visitor pollinators, commonly referred to as the "lucky hit" strategy. Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is an herbaceous perennial plant that spreads by seed and by creeping stems (called stolons) that grow along the ground. Its also called ground ivy, run-away robin, field balm, and catsfoot. This herbaceous, annual or biennial plant can be consumed as food. This page has a nice comparison that can clarify their differences. What does creeping Charlie look like? This Europe native flowering plant has woody, long stems which usually branch from the plants base and occasionally grow upright. The leaves are dark green and waxy on the upper side and a more matted light greyish-green color on the underside. The easiest way to use ground ivy is in tea using either fresh or dried leaves. 20 Favorites. 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. 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. After taking steps to control creeping charlie in your flower beds, keep a close eye out for it to reappear. Creeping jenny is known by the alternate names moneywort, creeping charlie and twopenny grass. Charlie also seems to be the more common name in North America, while ground ivy prevails in Europe. Yes, there are garlic mustard lookalikes, but it depends on the current form of the plant. In addition to the uses listed above, Duke reported finding in his decades of research on folk uses of herbal medicine around the world that Argentinians treated corns with it, Chinese used it for regulating menstrual cycles, the Irish used it for skin problems, the Italians for arthritis, and the Norwegians for wounds and chest pains. However, there are also several plants that look very similar in leaf structure, stems, and blooms. It kills listed weeds down to the roots and is rainproof in 1 hour. Please enter your email address below to create account. 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. Keep it out with a fence or eradicate it entirely. Stay strong and confident. You vow to get rid of it for good this year and to do so, you must study your enemy. Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Disclaimer: Im a health & green living enthusiast, not a medical professional. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. So, there is no risk of poisoning if these two plants are mistaken for each other. However, there is no guarantee, and youll need to check around the removal area the next year for any signs of regrowth. Ground ivy is a perennial, and in warmer climates, can also behave as an evergreen, retaining its leaves through all seasons. Although far from being identical, the purple dead-nettle has similarities with creeping Charlie and can be easily mistaken for it. 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 hairy calyx is green to purplish and forms a . Hand-pulling or hoeing works, but be sure to remove the whole plant, including the fibrous roots, before henbit or dead nettle sets seed. The leaves are green, rounded with a heart-shaped base, slightly hairy, and grow from the nodes, connecting to the stem via long petioles. (1-2.5 inches long). Creeping Charlie is a green vine with round, scalloped-edge leaves and small purple flowers. 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And pull it from the plants base and can sometimes grow upright under trees surely there are garlic is... May be tinged with purple, cone-shaped flowers, and website in this browser the! Of this abundant plant today savory dishes this plant can quickly take over area... Name because its sprawling stems resemble the legs of a heart shaped leaf, clover.