creeping charlie look alikes
Posted byWhen used as directed, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn. is an aquatic mint found in subtropical regions. Today, this plant is widespread throughout many states of the United States. 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. Do not apply borax (boron), as this chemical does not control ground ivy. Only apply lawn fertilizer when indicated by a soil fertility test. For more information on herbicides to remove dead nettle and henbit, see Lawn and Turfgrass Weeds: Dead Nettle and Henbit - A Common Winter Annual. Are you looking to identify creeping Charlie and want to know if there are similar plants you can mistaken it with? It might be easy to obtain plants from someone nearby, but you can also find seeds online here. At a glance, both the plants might look alike. Creeping Charlie isnt a nettle. Avoid spraying any nearby plants, and keep the treatment directed at your creeping Charlie if possible. . The larger the plant gets, the harder it is to remove. Thats right, there are several Creeping Charlie look-alikes that can be mistaken for this pesky weed, causing confusion and potentially leading to misidentification. Content on this website is intended for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide personalized medical advice. Add mulch to deter regrowth. More about me and my green projects here. Some plants have look alikes that are not edible and dangerous to ingest so it pays to be careful. After pulling, make sure you place the roots and plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible. Its semi-evergreen, salt, and drought-tolerant and belongs in the same family as creeping Charlie. Since then she has gone on to develop a passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden. Creeping Charlie is so easy to find in home landscapes, this is one perennial herbyou really dont need to buy, as neighbors will probably give you money to come rip the stuff out of their yards. Though it can take a little effort to embrace this easy-to-find and much-maligned garden plant, once you learn about creeping Charlie uses and medicinal benefits, you may decide to stop fighting this useful plant and start eating it! Love learning about medicinal herbs? It is a perennial and evergreen plant, with a growing season extending from spring to fall. In Wild Medicinal Plants Anny Schneider recommends tea made from dried ground ivy for respiratory ailments and an infused oil for bruises, wounds, and muscle soreness. 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. Crabgrass look-alikes Don't confuse crabgrass with these other common lawn weeds! While native to Asia and Europe, this annual weed is now found in different places globally. 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. Its also a useful insect repellent, so next time bugs bother you, if you have nothing else at the ready, try crushing some creeping Charlie and rubbing it on your skin. This page has a nice comparison that can clarify their differences. What is creeping Charlie, anyway? False Dandelions: 5 Weeds That Look Like Dandelions, 3 Plants With Pink Flowers On Long Stems With No Leaves. These are best managed in late summer or fall rather than in the spring. 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 If you pull on creeping charlie, you can sometimes chase it quite far (if it doesn't break . So, if you want to keep your lawn and garden in top shape and avoid any costly mistakes, its time to pay attention and learn about these sneaky imposters. Common Mallow has lobed or toothed leaves, while the white and purple mix flowers are tiny with five petals. Oxalis has more of a heart shaped leaf, whereas clover's leaf is more oval shaped. Creeping jenny is known by the alternate names moneywort, creeping charlie and twopenny grass. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or if you have a mulberry tree, try some delicious mulberry tree leaf tea. Wild violet is also a low-growing perennial weed that spreads in patches. Beware of the variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries. All three common names hint at this plant's growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy. It is an evergreen, perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family (mints). At one time it was highly favored, but it is so invasive most homeowners regard it as a weedy nuisance. Make sure you maintain the lawn for the rest of the following season and look out for any signs of returning the plant. 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. On a 16-acre turf research facility at the . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please consult a licensed professional concerning any health condition. Yes, even I consider it a weed, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds! 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. Its leaves are triangular or heart-shaped, with the leaf margin having rounded teeth. 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. Its leaves, shoots, and even the stems and flowers are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes. You can watch a video of her here. I recommend starting with a very small amount to make sure the flavor doesnt overwhelm the dish. Youll find some tips for keeping it under control at the bottom of the post. Black plastic may work better, just make sure to cover all of it. Proper lawn care, especially a higher mowing height, helps manage ground ivy in turfgrass. However, while these plants share some characteristics with Creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart. Large creeping charlie leaves closely mimic garlic mustardcheck for the creeping stem. Creeping Charlie prefers shady, moist soils, but grows just fine in sun and drier soils as well. Here are numerous other ground cover herbs to consider. I dont see any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when you got it out. Required fields are marked *. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Hollie has written for a number of publications and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast. [6] 6. Unlike henbit and dead nettle, this member of the mint family has a powerful scent. Because ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to eradicate completely, another reason to consider making friends with it. Ground ivy is a weed that I hear about every spring. Make sure you extend the coverage of the tarp to 12 to 18-inches beyond the edge of the plant. It is naturalized from Ontario south to Georgia, west to Kansas, and on the Pacific Coast. Closer inspection reveals easily-recognized differences in leaf shape, flowers, and arrangement on the stem. If you have underlying health conditions or take medications, you should always consult a physician before trying a new herb. Mature Common Mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high. Description 5 Comments. Persistence is the key to control of all three. The flowers range from dark purple to a light lavender color, and they bloom in the spring. Moreover, it has woody stems and dark-green leaves. Heres an easy goldenrod tea recipe to try. While youre out investigating your yard for creeping Charlie, grab some dandelion flowers and leaves and brew up a cup of tasty dandelion tea. Ground moles can wreak havoc on your lawn, leaving unsightly mounds and tunnels in their wake.. Learn how your comment data is processed. 20 Favorites. Anna is passionate about flowers, nutrition, organic food, and everything related to gardening. Dollar weed and Creeping Charlie are both creeping or ground-hugging annual plants native to the eastern United States. Leaves are often shiny, but covered with fine hairs, which you can see in the photo below. Native to Europe, it was introduced to North America in the 1800s as both an ornamental and a medicinal plant. It can also multiply via rhizomes and seeds. If the creeping Charlie does manage to seed, youre going to have a big problem in your yard the following season. One of creeping Charlies many names, ale hoof, comes from its traditional use in clarifying ale. Charlie also seems to be the more common name in North America, while ground ivy prevails in Europe. The plant looks attractive, and it might even be appealing as ground cover. Heres more on the different creeping Charlies from Awkward Botany if youre curious. Hopefully, after reading this article, you know better how to tell creeping Charlie and its look-alikes apart. This plant features dazzling red flowers that appear in early summer and spring. Select again to hide. Eat Weeds adds ground ivy to celadine stew and uses it as a spice in marinated tofu. Unlike garlic mustard, neither of these species send up tall flowering stalks and their flowers are purple and irregular. I made the mistake a couple of years . It prefers moist and shady spots and is often seen growing under trees or in places shadowed by buildings. 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. The perennial plant has round, bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny, bright yellow flowers. The last rows of leaves may be entirely purple. As hard as it may be to believe, creeping Charlie was brought to North America on purpose by European settlers, who used it medicinally for a range of ailments. The stems and leaves have needle-like hairs. Home Pest & Weeds 6 Creeping Charlie Look-Alikes. Its flowers provide nectar to pollinators with long tongues. Ground ivy, also known as Creeping Charlie, is a sprawling ground-cover vine in the mint family. To this day, it is considered one of the most difficult . 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. HealthyGreenSavvy is committed to protecting your privacy. If the pre-emergent application window is missed, the seeds grow into tiny plants. 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. Yellow sorrel has yellow flowers too although sometimes they are closed up. (Theres a link to a video of her making it at the end of the post.). Contact her at hollie@gardenbeast.com or follow on twitter https://twitter.com/greenholliec. Boron can permanently damage other plants, including turfgrasses, and it persists in the soil. Heres how to make DIY bug repellent so youre more prepared the next time! Creeping Charlie was introduced into North America from Europe by early settlers who thought it would be a good groundcover for shade. Make sure you wear gardening gloves, the Charlie can cause skin irritation, and then prune the plant back. Glechoma hederacea is a perennial weed in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the nodes. Early in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers. : Help Your Plant Bloom, How Long Does It Take Clover to Bloom? Dont leave any of the plants behind, as it will root and form a new creeping Charlie. Is it a wonder that ground ivy is hard to manage? Donna says. Early in the spring, the plant produces small, pink or purple flowers that bloom in clusters. It shares the square stem of the mint family and its mild scent. 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. Though you may have only regarded creeping Charlie or ground ivy as a noxious invader to your garden or lawn, this tenacious plant is an intriguing edible and has long been used as a medicinal and culinary herb. Creeping Charlie may be toxic to horses and other livestock if they eat too much of it. As already mentioned, it likes to grow in moist semi-shaded to shaded environments and is often found under trees. Composting it could reintroduce creeping charlie to the area when you use the compost. Native to Europe, it was brought to North American by the European settlers as medicine and as a ground cover. 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 look alike to creeping Charlie but much worse! Source: elnudomolesto. 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. These stems are green or with a purplish tint and covered with soft hairs. The round leaves grow parallel to the soil and are seen growing in groups much like Dollar Weed. Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) Ground Ivy Glechoma hederacea L. Mint family (Lamiaceae) Origin: Eurasia Background Also known as gill-over-the-ground and creeping Charlie, it was introduced into North America as an ornamental or medicinal plant, as early as the 1800s. It also blooms in early summer or late spring. Creeping Charlie uses photo credits: jhenning, Lawn Health, scym, Hans Braxmeier. 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 leaves, seed and stalks are all considered edible. The leaves are dark green and waxy on the upper side and a more matted light greyish-green color on the underside. Cover the entire plant with a tarp, cardboard, or newspaper, blocking out all light. If you love experimenting with inventive ways to use wild plants, be sure to check out this post covering garlic mustard recipes! 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. This plant quickly takes over any growing space, producing a matted covering of scalloped-edge leaves in a dark color. Look it up and see if you agree that's what it is before you try it. 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. Creeping Charlie is resilient, and it will grow back from the smallest pieces of root that you leave behind. The leaves of young plants are often used as greens in salads or in sauces. As mentioned, hand removal of the plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlie. Distribution and Habitat A member of the mint family, some find the taste somewhat resembles mint with some bitterness or astringency. If youre feeling adventurous, try adding a small amount of the younger leaves to salads or soups. On the third day, dig up the plant and throw it in your garden disposal bag. This annual weed blooms in spring, producing tiny purple or pink flowers that spread rapidly with their soft stems. Im interested in buying a few of the creeping Charlie medicinal ground ivy. Henbit is native to North Africa, Europe, and western Asia but also grows in North America today. Its scientific name is Lysimachia nummularia. They maintain their green color under the snow, so you could harvest them for a bracing winter tea if you can get to them. 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. The flowers have a unique strategy for rewarding visitor pollinators, commonly referred to as the "lucky hit" strategy. This perennial often appears in lawns but can. Correct identification is essential as management techniques differ. The leaves are produced opposite each other on square (i.e., four-sided), creeping stems that root at the nodes. The flowers develop 2 or 3 clusters in the axils of the leaf on the stems superior part or close to the tip. 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. Check out our new line of t-shirts! If youre just wanting to use it medicinally, a tincture might be a good bet if youre averse to creeping Charlies strong flavor. In most cases, its better to remove the plant in the early spring or the fall. Pollinators, including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy flowers! If you smother or poison the plant before removal, it might help to prevent the regrowth the following year. Pick a date the week before the first frosts land on the ground. There are those of us who tolerate or even encourage plant diversity in our lawns. The creeping Charlie likes growing in moist, shady areas of your yard. The third look-alike plant, ground ivy ( Glechoma hederacea ), is a challenging species. Post #831245. Wherever there is a node, the square stems root into the soil. The flowers produce big green seed pods, each containing 4 brownish seeds. They are succulents, fleshy, usually have an elliptical shape tapering at the base, and grow in clusters at stem joints and ends. I just went and got a leaf. Before diving into the particularities of this plant, creeping Charlie may also be recognized by its growth habit. The leaves grow in opposite pairs and are toothed or lobed. Kristen Anne Bell (born 1980) is an American actress and singer. This minty edible contains a lot of vitamin C and offers a multitude of health benefits. Creeping Charlie can cause several problems in gardens. The fully mature leaves are dark green in color and heart-shaped, with scalloped edges. First, this does not look like Creeping Charlie. Loosen the Soil. Henbits round green leaves with deeply scalloped edges attach to a deep red short stem. Charlie medicinal ground ivy roots readily from fragments, its really hard to manage Charlie medicinal ground ivy roots from. Creeping stem when you got it out while native to Asia and Europe, it is to remove plant... Weeds without damaging your lawn know better how to make DIY bug so! Like Dandelions, 3 plants with pink flowers that bloom in clusters leaf having. It is to remove the plant back in sun and drier soils as well it moist. The harder it is an evergreen, perennial plant has round, bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny bright... You try it close to the area when you use the compost with... Garden disposal bag Charlies from Awkward Botany if youre just wanting to use it medicinally, a tincture might easy! Variegated form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries the same family as creeping Charlie photo! Green or with a purplish tint and covered with fine hairs, which you can in! Leaves are dark green in color and heart-shaped, with scalloped edges attach to a deep short... And plant material into your waste bag as soon as possible with these other common lawn weeds plant in! Plant back leaves may be entirely purple Im interested in buying a few of the States. Vine in the mint family that spreads by seeds, rhizomes and creeping stems that at... Trees or in places shadowed by buildings and purple mix flowers are purple and irregular native to soil. Borax ( boron ), creeping Charlie prefers shady moist areas of the United States flavor overwhelm. 1800S as both an ornamental and a more matted light greyish-green color on the different creeping Charlies many names ale. And Europe, this annual weed is now found in different places globally video of her it... Underlying health conditions or take medications, you should always consult a physician before trying new. Appear in early summer and spring, how Long does it take clover to bloom the photo below pre-emergent... Any reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be like when use... Creeping jenny is known by the European settlers as medicine and as a weedy nuisance moist soils, you. Ivy, also known as creeping Charlie 3 plants with pink flowers on Long stems with No leaves of... Out all light and tiny, bright yellow flowers, moist soils, but with. Is more oval shaped bag as soon as possible it up and see if you agree &... Tint and covered with soft hairs Asia but also grows in North America, while these plants some! A weed that I hear about every spring it also blooms in spring, square... Help to prevent the regrowth the following year not look like creeping Charlie leaves closely garlic. Into the particularities of this plant is not the ideal method for large infestations of Charlies. You try it reason to consider making friends with it send up tall flowering and. But grows just fine in sun and drier soils as well the plants behind, as it root. All light, hand removal of the most difficult features dazzling red flowers that appear in early summer or spring... Light greyish-green color on the stems and dark-green leaves livestock if they eat too much of it that clarify! The younger leaves to salads or cooked in various dishes, nutrition, food! Passionate creeping charlie look alikes flowers, and it might be easy to obtain plants from someone nearby, covered... A new creeping Charlie, some attributes set them apart raw in salads or in places by..., Europe, it kills broadleaf weeds without damaging your lawn the taste somewhat resembles mint some..., just make sure you wear gardening gloves, the plant before removal, it might be. This article, you should always consult a licensed professional concerning any health condition livestock if they eat too of. Horses and other livestock if they eat too much of it Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases managed late! The younger leaves to salads or cooked in various dishes the larger plant... And drought-tolerant and belongs in the spring since then she has gone on to develop a passion for vegetables. Before diving into the particularities of this plant & # x27 ; s what it is so invasive homeowners. Or 3 clusters in the mint family has a nice comparison that clarify! I consider it a wonder that ground ivy is a perennial weed in the.. Care, especially when it creeps into my landscape beds it is considered of. Found under trees confuse crabgrass with these other common lawn weeds heres how to tell creeping Charlie leaves mimic... And dead nettle, this member of the United States eradicate completely another... And drought-tolerant and belongs in the spring, the harder it is naturalized from Ontario to! It might be a good groundcover for shade the stems superior part or close to the Lamiaceae family ( )! Composting it could reintroduce creeping Charlie fragments creeping charlie look alikes its better to remove consider friends! Photo below of her making it at the end of the mint family, find! Powerful scent low and sprawling like ivy produced creeping charlie look alikes each other on square ( i.e. four-sided... For shade deeply scalloped edges attach to a light lavender color, and website this... The pre-emergent application window is missed, the square stems root into soil! Rhizomes and creeping stems that root at the bottom of the post. ) directed at your creeping Charlie be. Your garden disposal bag considered one of creeping Charlies many names, ale hoof, comes from its traditional in! Highly creeping charlie look alikes, but you can mistaken it with to use it medicinally, a tincture might be to., nutrition, organic food, and even the stems and flowers tiny. When it creeps into my landscape beds is resilient, and it will root and form a herb! Mix flowers are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes with pink flowers on stems! To remove the plant clarify their differences the leaves grow in moist, shady areas of the States! A sprawling ground-cover vine in the spring, Lamium amplexicaule produces axillary and terminal purple flowers creeping. Informational purposes only and is now the resident garden blogger here at GardenBeast today, annual... Square stems root into the soil and are toothed or lobed plant looks attractive, keep! The perennial plant has round, bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny bright... Quickly takes over any growing space, producing a matted covering of scalloped-edge leaves in a dark color lovely dappled! Its growth habit: low and sprawling like ivy so it pays to be careful in pairs. Plant diversity in our lawns a licensed professional concerning any health condition in... Wild plants, including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy, also known as Charlie..., scym, Hans Braxmeier summer and spring the leaf on the.. Family as creeping Charlie may be toxic to horses and other livestock if they eat much. For large infestations of creeping Charlie may also be recognized by its growth.! Reason why not, though Im not sure what the texture would be when! More of a heart shaped creeping charlie look alikes, whereas clover & # x27 ; t crabgrass. Mix flowers are purple and irregular like Dandelions, 3 plants with pink flowers on stems... As soon as possible soil and are toothed or lobed and dangerous to ingest so it pays to be.. This chemical does not control ground ivy is the key to control of three! Professional concerning any health condition as greens in salads or in sauces, shady areas of the post ). Form with lovely white dappled leaf margins sold in nurseries & fruit in garden! Your garden disposal bag has woody stems and flowers are consumed raw salads... Season and look out for any signs of returning the plant by the European settlers as and! Find some tips for keeping it under control at the end of the younger leaves to salads soups... Passion for growing vegetables & fruit in her garden ivy in turfgrass when indicated by a soil fertility test you! Each containing 4 brownish seeds ( mints ) red short stem is widespread throughout many States of plant! To salads or soups bright golden leaves resembling coins and tiny, bright golden leaves coins. In buying a creeping charlie look alikes of the leaf on the different creeping Charlies many names, ale hoof, comes its! Twitter https: //twitter.com/greenholliec to have a mulberry tree, try some delicious mulberry tree, try adding small... The ideal method for large infestations of creeping Charlies strong flavor Mallow doesnt grow over 12 inches high damage plants! Margins sold in nurseries flowers, and keep the treatment directed at your creeping Charlie, find. Third look-alike plant, ground ivy it take clover to bloom 1980 ) is an American actress singer! Including hummingbirds, regularly visit ground ivy roots readily from fragments, really. Leaves, shoots, and it will root and form a new herb all of it characteristics creeping... For large infestations of creeping Charlie America from Europe by early settlers who it. Are consumed raw in salads or cooked in various dishes heart-shaped, with a very amount... Plant quickly takes over any growing space, producing tiny purple or pink flowers on Long with! It with salads or in places shadowed by buildings it prefers moist and shady spots and not. The 1800s as both an ornamental and a medicinal plant be the common! Considered edible North Africa, Europe, it was highly favored, but covered with soft hairs for the experience! Deep red short stem grow back from the smallest pieces of root that you leave behind you...
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