Practical
Plants

Glechoma hederacea

Ground Ivy

a perennial evergreen member of the Glechoma genus in the family Labiatae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Labiatae
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Height
0.2 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Bees
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A report in the medicinal uses says the plant should be used with caution, no reason is given. Another report says that the plant might be toxic to horses[14].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves - raw or cooked[21]. The leaves have a bitter flavour[19], they can be mixed into salads to add a slight aromatic tang[20]. They can also be cooked like spinach, added to soups etc or used as a flavouring[12][9]. Available very early in the year. A herb tea is made from the fresh or dried leaves[12][7][9]. It is often used mixed with verbena leaves[20]. The herb has been added to beer in much the same way as hops in order to clear it and also to improve its flavour and keeping qualities[18][9]. This species was the most common flavouring in beer prior to the use of hops from the 16th century onwards[15].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Tea
Plant part
Leaves

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Ground ivy is a safe and effective herb that is used to treat many problems involving the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, throat and digestive system[16]. A well-tolerated treatment it can be given to children to clear lingering catarrh and to treat chronic conditions such as glue ear and sinusitis[16]. Throat and chest problems, especially those due to excess catarrh, also benefit from this remedy[16]. The leaves and flowering stems are anodyne, antiphlogistic, appetizer, astringent, digestive, diuretic, febrifuge, pectoral, gently stimulant, tonic and vermifuge[18][21][13][2][4][5][8]. They are best harvested in May whilst still fresh[18], and are dried for later use[15]. The leaves are used in the treatment of hypersensitivity in children and are useful in the treatment of kidney diseases and indigestion[18][21][13][2][4][5][8]. Applied externally, the expressed juice speeds the healing of bruises and black eyes[18]. Use with caution[13].

Product or use
Anodyne
Product or use
Antiphlogistic
Product or use
Appetizer
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Miscellany
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Stimulant
Product or use
Tonic
Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A good ground cover plant for shady places. It is rather vigorous though and can swamp smaller plants[11].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
Most of Europe, including Britain, northern and western Asia to Japan.
Habitat
Damp waste ground, hedgerows and woodland margins[20].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
loamy, clay, heavy clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in situ as soon as it is ripe, or in the spring. Division in spring or autumn[10]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a heavy soil and dappled shade[6][17]. Prefers a moist well-drained soil, succeeding in sun or shade[10]. A very invasive plant, spreading freely at the roots[1][17][15]. A good bee plant[3].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969-00-00 ISBN 0192176218

    ↩1↩2

  3. International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees. International Bee Research Association. 1981-00-00

    ↩

  4. ? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X

    ↩1↩2

  5. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩1↩2

  6. Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962-00-00

    ↩

  7. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  8. Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre

    ↩1↩2

  9. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  11. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

    ↩

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  13. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

  14. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩

  15. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  16. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩1↩2↩3

  17. Brown. Shade Plants for Garden and Woodland.

    ↩1↩2

  18. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  19. Mabey. R. Food for Free. Collins 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219060-5

    ↩

  20. Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2↩3

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