Glechoma hederacea L. Glechoma hederacea L. var. micrantha Moric. Glechoma hederacea L. var. parviflora (Benth.) House Nepeta hederacea (L.) Trevis. Ground-ivy, gill-over-the-ground, creeping charlie, alehoof, tunhoof, catsfoot, field balm, run-away-robin
Ground-ivy is not a North American native, but after its introduction from Europe and southwestern Asia, it has become widespread. It is a member of the mint family. Identification: Ground-ivy has round or kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges, ⅜-1¼" (9.5-31 mm) in diameter, attached in opposing pairs to a stem that is roughly square in cross-section. Often only 3" (7.6 cm) tall, it sometimes reaches 12" (30 cm). Flowers are blue, purple, or lavender, occurring in groups of 3. The flower shape is unusual. A small upper petal is divided into two lobes. A larger lower petal has a lobe on either side, and a large bottom lobe that is divided into two more lobes. Each flower is ⅜-½" (9.5-12 mm) across. These plants commonly appear in lawns, and have a strong scent when crushed. |
5/12/2007 · Pepperell, Massachusetts 3/20/2012 · Gunpowder Falls State Park, Phoenix Rd, Phoenix, Maryland |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Some similar species: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ajuga reptans |
You are here Glechoma hederacea |
Lamium purpureum |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common Name | ![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant | Forms loose mats. Plants are 6-9" (15-22 cm) in height. | Often only 3" (7.6 cm) tall, it sometimes reaches 12" (30 cm). Extends horizontally, hence the term “ivy.” | 4-16" (10-40 cm) high, and somewhat hairy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Blue, appearing from May to Jun. | Flowers are blue, purple, or lavender, occurring in groups of 3. The flower shape is unusual. A small upper petal is divided into two lobes. A larger lower petal has a lobe on either side, and a large bottom lobe that is divided into two more lobes. Each flower is ⅜-½" (9.5-12 mm) across. | Flowers are ¼-¾" (6.3-19 mm), appearing from Mar to Oct. They are pink to red to purple in color. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Dark green with purple highlights, opposite, and simple, sometimes toothed. | Round or kidney-shaped, with scalloped edges, ⅜-1¼" (9.5-31 mm) in diameter. | Toothed, round or kidney-shaped, deeply and irregularly veined, and ¼-1¼" (6.3-31 mm). Each stem node has two opposite leaves, and each succeeded pair is rotated 90° from the last. Upper, younger leaves often have a red-violet tinge. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Stem | Square in cross-section. | Stems are 4-angled and glabrous. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones |
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Habitats | Damp grassy fields, damp woods. | Moist ground, woods, slopes, roadsides, waste places, lawns | Fields, weedy places, gardens. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild | Wild | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occurrence | Common | Common | Common |
Online References:
Glechoma hederacea on Missouriplants.com
Glechoma hederacea on spes.vt.edu
Glechoma hederacea on Wikipedia
Glechoma hederacea on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
Glechoma hederacea at Illinois Wildflowers
Glechoma hederacea on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
References:
Clemants, Steven; Gracie, Carol, Wildflowers in the Field and Forest, Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 50
6/2/2008 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 23 × 15" (57 × 38 cm)
6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (12 × 16 cm)
4/29/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 2½" (10 × 7.1 cm)
6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 10 × 6" (24 × 16 cm)
4/29/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 2½" (11 × 7.3 cm)
5/12/2007 · Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
5/5/2010 · Nashua River at Rte 119, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 7" (12 × 18 cm)
Glechoma hederacea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (11 × 16 cm)
5/17/2016 · Tom and Susan’s, Pepperell, Massachusetts
6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)
6/11/2014 · Conservation Area near Potanipo Pond, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm)
6/9/2017 · Tom and Susan's, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (12 × 18 cm)
3/18/2012 · Gunpowder Falls State Park, Phoenix Rd., Phoenix, Maryland
≈ 4 × 3" (11 × 8.3 cm)
6/11/2014 · Conservation Area near Potanipo Pond, Brookline, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 6" (20 × 14 cm)
Range: