Creeping Charlie (Ground Ivy)

Found in:

• Lawns and landscape beds
• Thrives in moist soils, sun or shade

Characteristics:

• Perennial with vigorous, creeping above-ground stems (stolons)
• Plant remains green year round and has a minty odor when crushed
• Stems are square
• Leaves are rounded with a scalloped edge, arise opposite one another along stem
• Purple, tube-like flowers occur in spring only, on upright stems
• Fibrous roots and new stems form readily at each stem node (joint); underground stems (rhizomes) are also present

Significance:

• Aggressive groundcover in shaded, moist areas; will outcompete turfgrass as well as other low growing groundcovers in those areas

Plants that look similar:

• Common Mallow
• Heal-all
• Henbit
• Purple Deadnettle

More information and control options for Creeping Charlie