Ground Ivy, Cat's foot, Creeping Charlie
Glechoma hederacea

Family: Lamiaceae

What it is like

A herb. It has a creeping ivy-like growth habit. It creeps along the ground. It grows 15 cm high and spreads 2 m wide. The stems are square. They root at the nodes. The leaves are greyish-green. They have a crinkly edge and are hairy. They are heart shaped. The leaves occur in pairs. The flowers are purple blue. There are 5 petals which are fused together. The 2 lower lips are covered with white dots. It has a mint like smell when the leaves are crushed.

There are 10-12 Glechoma species. It is used in medicine. It has become a weed in the USA and Canada. Chemical composition: volatile oil = 1.8%. Rich in menthone and limonene.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows on heavy, damp soils. It grows in warmer temperate areas. It suits plant hardiness zones 4-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Europe, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Russia, Scandinavia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

It is used to flavour and clarify beer. The fresh and dried leaves are used to make a tea which is sweetened with honey. The leaves are bitter so are only used in small amounts to spice up a salad or soup. They are cooked.

Edible parts

Leaves, leaves - tea, spice, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown by division or from rooted runners.

Its other names

Local names

Alehoof, Bršljanasta grenkuljica, Dobricica, Erva de sao joao, Field balm, Gill-over-the-ground, Hierba terrestre, Hiedra terrestre, Hondsdraf, Katonapetrezselyem, Korsknapp, Nepeta, Runaway robin, Vadpetrezselyem

Synonyms

Calamintha hederacea (L.) Scop.; Chamaecissos hederaceus (L.) Nieuwl. & Lunell; Chamaeclema hederacea (L.) Moench; Glechoma borealis Salisb.; Glechoma bulgarica Borbas; Glechoma heterophylla Opiz; Glechoma intermedia Schrad. ex Benth.; Glechoma lobulata Kit.; Glechoma longicaulis Dulac; Glechoma magna Merat; Gelchoma micrantha Boenn. ex Rchb.; Glechoma rigida A. Kern.; Glechoma rotundifolia Raf.; Glechoma serbica Halacsy & Wettst.; Glechonion hederaceum (L.) St.-Lag.; Nepeta glechoma Benth.; Nepeta hederacea (L.) Travis; Nepeta rigida (A. Kern.) Beck;