Ground ivy (creeping Charlie) – Glechoma hederacea

The photo is of a clump of ground ivy plants. The leaves are green, opposite, and round with scalloped margins.

Ground ivy (creeping Charlie) – Glechoma hederacea

Glechoma hederacea L.

Lamiaceae (Mint family)

MI Status

Non-native

Life cycle

Prostrate, creeping perennial.

Leaves

Opposite, kidney-shaped to rounded leaves are approximately 1 inch wide with scalloped margins, palmate veins and long leaf stalks. Damaged leaves emit a mintlike odor.

Stems

Prostrate, creeping stolons are square in cross-section and root at the nodes to form thick patches.

Flowers and fruit

Purplish blue, funnel-shaped flowers with two lips are found in clusters in the upper leaf axils. The upper lip has two lobes; the lower lip has three lobes. Fruit are small, brown, egg-shaped nutlets.

Reproduction

Creeping stems and seeds.

The photo is of a high population of ground ivy plants growing in lawn. — Ground ivy plants growing in lawn

The photo is of ground ivy stolons. The stolons are above ground creeping stems — Ground ivy stolons

The photo is a close-up of ground ivy stolons. They are square in cross section and root at the nodes. — Ground ivy stolons close-up

The photo is a close-up of a ground ivy flower. They flowers are purple, funnel shaped, and have two lips. — Ground ivy flower

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