Ground ivy is difficult to control, because even just small portions of roots or stems left behind by hand-weeding can regenerate into new plants. It is capable of growing up to 7 feet in a single year and can continue to elongate under the leaf litter during the winter. Ground ivy is considered a nuisance in lawns and gardens, and in disturbed floodplain habitats. The earliest specimen found in Missouri was collected in 1868 along the Meramec River in St. In addition to moving cuttings of the plants (which readily take root to form new populations) and seeds, people also altered the environment in ways that increased the suitable habitat for ground ivy. ![]() The 1800s was the era of steamboats, and many of the first records of the plant in the Midwest and South are along major rivers. Humans have undoubtedly assisted its spread. It is less common in the Great Plains and the Southwest, where the habitat is less suitable for it. Today, it occurs nearly throughout temperate North America. From the east coast, it spread westward at a rate of about 19 miles a year. It might have arrived on our continent as a contaminant with crop plants or seeds, but it might also have been brought from Europe intentionally as an ornamental plant or for use as an herb or medicinal plant. Ground ivy was first reported in North America in the eastern United States in 1814. Ground ivy spreads not only by cuttings that take root, but also by its tiny seeds (nutlets) that produce an adhesive mucilage when moistened. In some regions it is considered invasive in natural habitats. Today, it is widely considered a stubborn, troublesome weed of lawns and gardens. Ground ivy is native to temperate regions of Eurasia and spread nearly throughout temperate North America in the 1800s. Occurs in bottomland forests, mesic upland forests, banks of streams, rivers, and spring branches, and bases of bluffs also lawns, gardens, railroads, roadsides, and shaded, disturbed areas. Similar species: Other plants that commonly occur as weeds in lawns and gardens include henbit, dead nettle, and Persian speedwell, but none of these have creeping stems that function as stolons, taking root at the nodes. Blooms March–July.įruits are tiny, dry, egg-shaped nutlets (1–2 mm long) 2–4 per flower brown. The upper lip is notched at its broadly rounded tip the lower lip has a pair of smaller lateral lobes plus a much wider central lobe the central lobe is notched at the tip and usually has white and darker purple mottling or spots and a beard of fine hairs near the opening of the throat. Petals are purplish blue to purple and fused into a funnel-shaped tube, ⅜–⅝ inch long, in the typical 2-lipped mint-family configuration. Hairiness varies from glabrous to sparsely hairy.įlowers occur in the leaf axils in clusters of 2–6 flowers per node. The foliage produces a mildly unpleasant, somewhat minty odor when crushed. ![]() Leaves are opposite, with distinct leaf stems blades are round or kidney-shaped, with scalloped or bluntly toothed margins. ![]() The creeping stems are square in cross-section and take root at the nodes. ![]() It is widely considered a lawn and garden weed. A native of Europe and Asia, this member of the mint family has been introduced nearly throughout the United States. Ground ivy is a perennial, creeping, nonwoody plant that often forms loose mats.
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