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 clump of ground ivy plants. The leaves are green, opposite, and round with scalloped margins.
Ground ivy plant
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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