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Ground Ivy, Gill-over-the-ground, Haymaids, Creeping Charlie - Glechoma hederacea


Family: Lamiaceae – Mint family Genus Common Name: Glechoma Native Status: Introduced
Glechoma hederacea - Ground Ivy, Gill-over-the-ground, Haymaids, Creeping Charlie. This introduced plant has small attractive, colorful blossoms, but it is quite invasive, even pushing out other weed plants. It is found in all but 4 of our states.

Its name implies its growth pattern, with the stems trailing along the ground. The stems may be up to 18 inches long, and form roots at the nodes. Large mats of the plant may form.
Distribution of Glechoma hederacea in the United States and Canada:
USDA Plants Distribution Map
Blue=Native; Grey=Introduced

Map from USDA Plants Database:
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 25 May 2013). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

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Site: Walker County, Ga Date: 2010-April-04Photographer: Gerald C. Williamson
Nikon D60
The flowering stems of Ground Ivy may rise up to 8 inches above the mat of a colony's main stems. They have the typical mint family shape, and are a colorful light purple.
Glechoma hederacea

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2013
Photographs Copyrighted by the named photographer