Ground ivy
Glechoma hederacea
Botanical family: Lamiaceae
Glechoma hederacea, a small creeping Lamiaceae with rounded, minty foliage. It carpets cool undergrowth and flowers blue-violet from early spring.
Partial shade
Cool, rich
Moist soil
Very hardy perennial
Overwinters in your zone
Role in permaculture
An aromatic ground cover that dresses cool, shaded corners, offers one of the very first nectars of spring to solitary bees, when resources are still scarce, and flavours cooking.
Companions
No companion planting is documented for this plant: no recommended neighbour, no neighbour to avoid.
Seasons & availability
Creeping foliage present for much of the year; young leaves in spring, blue-violet flowers from March to May.
Available: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November.
Guidance for the oceanic / temperate climate; it may vary with your region, altitude, exposure and growing method.
Sources
- Plants For A Future, « Glechoma hederacea » (pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Glechoma+hederacea)
- Tela Botanica, « Glechoma hederacea L. » (tela-botanica.org/bdtfx-nn-30252-description)
Nutritional & medicinal properties
For educational purposes. Not a substitute for medical advice. Effects depend on the form, the dose and personal context.
Precautions & contraindications
A powerful flavour, to be dosed. Avoid high and prolonged medicinal doses; not advised in pregnancy as a precaution. Light culinary use without concern.
Family behaviour: Lamiaceae
In general, Lamiaceae are aromatics (basil, mint, thyme, rosemary, sage, lavender, lemon balm, savory). Their essential oils are reputed to bother some insects, but in a trial cited by Parker et al. (2013), sage, thyme and mint planted near cabbages did not reduce their pests. Their flowers are much visited by pollinators.
Understanding families means learning one rule per family rather than every pairing one by one. Learn more →
Species & varieties
The best-known species and varieties in France.
Common varieties
Keep in mind
A double-edged vigour: its creeping stems root at each node and quickly form a dense carpet. To be installed where covering the ground is precisely what's wanted (a cool, shaded corner), not in the middle of delicate crops it could overrun.
A note on rigour: many companion pairings are gardening folklore; this note sums up what the sources say, where there are any.
Before you forage
This plant is often gathered from the wild. Only pick what is abundant, never a protected species, and never uproot a whole plant (roots) without the landowner's permission. Rules vary by country and region, check locally.
Key takeaways
- • Prefers partial shade exposure.
- • Ideal soil: cool, rich.