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Ground Ivy – the Green Wonder Herb in Forests and Gardens

Ground ivy is a true all-rounder: it is decorative and is used in the kitchen and in medicine
Ground ivy is a true all-rounder: it is decorative and is used in the kitchen and in medicine Photo: picture alliance / Zoonar | Erich Teister

January 27, 2025, 4:18 pm | Read time: 7 minutes

Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is a versatile plant that was already popular with the Romans and Germanic tribes. With its attractive appearance and culinary and healing properties, it is still popular today. The plant is a true all-rounder, both as a spice for soups and salads and for treating ailments. It is also extremely easy to care for and therefore also suitable for gardening novices.

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Ground ivy, also known as creeping Charlie, is an inconspicuous herb that we come across on walks in the forest or in the garden. The plant prefers to grow in sparse forests or on damp meadows and embankments, but it can also be found in our local green spaces. Despite its inconspicuous appearance, it is a true all-rounder and, above all, easy to care for. Its uses are almost unlimited. For example, it can be used to make a healing oil for wounds around the summer solstice (June 21) or to add a healthy and tasty note to salads.

How Did It Get Its Name?

The plant owes its German name, gundermann, to the healing power that is attributed to ground ivy. In the past, ground ivy was often used to treat purulent wounds. Pus was called “Gund” in Old High German.

Planting Ground Ivy

Ground ivy is a perennial herb that acts as an evergreen ground cover. Although it is mostly found in forests and meadows, it can also be planted in the home garden. It should be noted, however, that it proliferates. You should, therefore, take precautions and mark out the area where it is to grow.

Appearance and Growth

The plant grows to a height of up to 30 centimeters. From April to July, it delights us with its purple flowers. But we are not the only ones who like the flowers – they are a real treat for insects.

Between September and October, you can sow ground ivy directly into the bed or in a tub. To do this, spread the seeds widely, cover them lightly with soil, and water them. Keep the soil moist until germination. Alternatively, you can pre-grow it between January and March and plant it out in spring. It is also ideal for the balcony.

Location and Soil

This pretty ground cover is fairly undemanding. A moist soil is important for it. It doesn’t matter whether it is in full sun, the shade, or partial shade. Ground ivy feels most at home in nutrient-rich soil.

Optimal Care for Ground Ivy

Even though it doesn’t really need much to be happy, there are a few points to bear in mind when caring for it.

Watering

Ground ivy is quite tolerant when it comes to water. Although it likes it moist, it can also do without water for a few days. On particularly hot days, however, you should not do without watering.

Fertilization

In principle, ground ivy does not need any additional fertilizer if it is provided with nutrient-rich soil. If it is a container plant, you can support it with fertilizer in spring.

Pruning

Ground ivy does not actually need pruning. However, if it has developed excessively long shoots and is bare in some places, it can be cut back.

Overwintering

Ground ivy is happy to stay outside in winter. Whether in a bed or in a pot, it can withstand temperatures in the double-digit minus range in places.

Propagation

If you already have ground ivy in your garden and want to propagate it, simply cut off the root shoots and place them in water. Then, wait until new roots have formed. As soon as this is the case, the rooted shoots can be planted out. For dense growth, place the root shoots 20 centimeters apart.

If you want to grow ground ivy from seeds, you can spread them widely in a bed or container. However, you should be aware that it likes to proliferate. It is advisable to mark out your area.

Is Ground Ivy Poisonous?

Yes and no, it is harmless to humans in the correct dosage but should be used in normal quantities. Due to the bitter substance glechomin, it can cause nausea if overdosed. Glechomin is also the reason why it is poisonous to animals. It is said to cause severe symptoms of poisoning, especially in horses.

Diseases and Pests

If the plant is in an unsuitable location or there are unfavorable climatic conditions for a long time, glechomin can be susceptible to mildew. There is no need to panic if the leaves wither at the end of late summer: ground ivy is perennial and will sprout again the following year.

Rust fungus can also settle on it. The infected plant should be removed and disposed of immediately, as the rust fungus also spreads to neighboring plants.

Using Ground Ivy

Ground ivy is rather unjustly unknown, as it has a lot to offer. It has been used as a reliable medicinal plant for centuries and is also used to season food. Nowadays, more and more star chefs are developing an interest in its special flavor. Both its flowers and leaves can be used.

Ground Ivy in the Kitchen

Thanks to its unusual taste, it is very popular in the kitchen. Ground ivy is rather spicy and somewhat similar to mint; it is slightly pungent and a little bitter. Its leaves are often used to refine soups or salads, spreads, and herb butter. The plant can even be used to make liqueur. The flowers play a subordinate role in the kitchen, serving primarily as a pretty decoration. They are also occasionally used in soups.

Ground Ivy as a Medicinal Herb

As it has expectorant properties, ground ivy is often used as a gargle solution for throat problems. It also has diuretic properties and therefore helps with kidney and bladder problems. As the root of the word “Gund” reveals, it has been used for centuries to treat inflammation and abscesses.

The small amounts of essential oils, flavone glycosides, bitter substances, and some tropane alkaloids in the leaves and flowers are particularly noteworthy. They are said to have many healing effects in their entirety. Among other things, they are said to be anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antibacterial, expectorant, and promote wound healing. Even today, ground ivy is still used as an alternative medicine for coughs, bronchitis, general intestinal complaints, eczema, and gout.

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Using Ground ivy

The plants is mostly used in the form of tea, herbal baths, and tinctures.

Tea

To make tea, you need one teaspoon of dried leaves or two teaspoons of fresh ground ivy. Pour 250 milliliters of boiling water over them and leave to infuse for five minutes. The tea helps with colds and urinary tract disorders and can be used to gargle with tooth and gum problems. It can also be used for washing and applying to wounds.

Bath Additive

The bath additive with ground ivy is used for poorly healing or festering wounds and ulcers. Add a handful of leaves to a liter of water and boil the mixture. Five liters of the bath additive are recommended for a full bath.

Miracle Leaf Oil

Around the summer solstice is the best time to harvest and prepare ground ivy for the so-called miracle leaf oil. The oil is used for poorly healing and festering wounds and can be applied directly to the affected area. For example, it can be used for inflamed mosquito bites.

To make it, you need two large handfuls of freshly picked, unwashed plants. Use all the ingredients: flowers, leaves, and stems. Everything is placed in a small screw-top jar and squeezed as tightly as possible. The sealed jar is then placed in the sun for a week. Over time, a light-colored oily liquid forms at the bottom of the jar. This is filtered and stored in a dark bottle in a cool place.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of MYHOMEBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@myhomebook.de.

Topics #amex Garden plants Plants A-Z
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