Non-native Species of the Month- Creeping Charlie
(Glechoma hederacea)
Creeping Charlie, also known as Ground Ivy, is a persistent perennial weed that many of us are quite familiar with. It arrived from Europe by immigrants who used it for medicine and food purposes. Found in disturbed habitats and shady areas, Creeping Charlie spreads vegetatively by roots that grow at every leaf node and creeps along the soil surface, often forming dense mats. As a member of the mint family, it has square stems and has a faint minty smell when crushed. Flowers are small, tubular, and violet-colored. Leaves are round and heart-shaped with scalloped edges. Control methods include pulling colonies and removing all plant fragments, raking, and planting shade-tolerant grasses in its place.