Minnesota Wildflowers


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Ground Ivy

Plant Info
Also known as: Creeping Charlie, Gill-over-the-Ground
Scientific name:Glechoma hederacea
Family:Mint (Lamiaceae)
Life cycle:perennial
Origin:Eurasia
Habitat:shade, part sun; thickets, disturbed soil, lawns
Bloom season:spring, summer
Plant height:5 to 8 inches
USDA PLANTS database:Minnesota county distribution map
Spotted in Ramsey County at:

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Detailed Information

Flower: irregular shape
[photo of flower] irregular, ½ to ¾-inch long flowers, light blue to deep purple-blue or reddish-purple. 2 to 4 flowers on short stalks arise from the leaf axils on the upper part of the plant.
Leaves and stem: opposite attachment simple type
[photo of leaves] Leaves are round or kidney-shaped with scalloped edges, to 1½ inches wide and 1 inch long on stems about 1 inch long. Leaves have deep veins and are sometimes tinged with purple. Like all members of the Mint family, the stem is square and leaf attachment is opposite.
Notes:
Ground Ivy usually grows in large mats, is aggressive and hard to get rid of. My yard is infested with the stuff.

More photos

All photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN April-May, 2007

Comments

Have you seen this plant in Ramsey County, or have any other comments about it?

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Please: Do not ask about where to buy seed or other gardening questions, are plants edible, etc. I am not a horticulturist or botanist, just an enthusiastic hobbyist so I probably don't know the answer. Please check the links page for additional resources. -thanks much



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