Ground Ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Plant Data

Order:

Lamiales

Family:

Lamiaceae (Dead-nettle)

Flowering Months:

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC

Flowers:

Violet, in whorls of 2-4, seldom larger than 2cm.

Fruit:

A small, 4-parted, brown nutlet.

Leaves:

Simple, opposite, compact leaves on square stems. Scallop-like, rounded leaf margins.

Maximum Size:

30cm tall.

Foraging Notes:

Edible. The young leaves can be eaten raw and the whole plant tastes peppery. A herbal tea can be made from Ground Ivy, called Gill tea.
Never consume a wild plant unless you are 100% certain that it is safe to eat and you know that you have identified it correctly.

Aroma:

Smells akin to Mint when crushed, some say Blackcurrants.

Other Names:

Alehoof, Cat's Paw, Cat's-foot, Creeping Charlie, Creeping Jenny, Crow Victuals, Field Balm, Gillale, Gill-go-by-the-hedge, Gill-over-the-ground, Ground Joy, Hayhofe, Haymaids, Hedgemaids, Hove, Lizzy-run-up-the-hedge, Robin-run-in-the-hedge, Run-away-Robin, Tunhoof, Turnhoof, Wild Snakeroot.

Habitats:

Farmland, hedgerows, meadows, wasteland, woodland.