Ground ivy (creeping Charlie, Glechoma hederacea) flowering on short upright stems as it creeps along the ground. Photo: Miri Talabac, University of Maryland Extension
Updated: February 3, 2026
Ground ivy, also called creeping Charlie, is a non-native perennial native to Eurasia. Introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s (or earlier), it is an invasive species and common lawn and garden weed.
Physical features of ground ivy
The stems and leaves of ground ivy have an unpleasant or minty smell when crushed.
Growth rate and habit: rapid (several feet per year); creeps via stolons (running stems on the surface of the soil) that root at the nodes (where leaves attach to the stem) as they spread
Typical mature size: flowering upright stems only reach a few inches tall (rarely to 1 foot); horizontal stolons can grow several feet long
Blooms: light lavender-purple or blue-purple flowers on short stalks in spring
Leaves: rounded to kidney-shaped, with scalloped margins; opposite arrangement on the stems; 0.5 to 1.5 inches in diameter; evergreen (leaves not shed for winter)
Stems: square-sided (look at the end of a cut stem -- it will be fairly square in shape)
Pale purple blooms with darker spots on a flowering stem of ground ivy. Photo: Miri Talabac, University of Maryland Extension
Ground ivy flowers can be a deep blue-purple color. Photo: Miri Talabac, University of Maryland Extension
How ground ivy spreads
Ground ivy primarily spreads by runners, and less commonly by seed.
Conditions that favor growth
While tolerant of a range of conditions, ground ivy prefers damp, fertile soil in partly shaded sites. It can tolerate full sun, but does not grow well in very acidic or salt-contaminated soil.
Ground ivy often infests lawns, and its low growth habit avoids lawn mower damage. Photo: Miri Talabac, University of Maryland Extension
Patches of ground ivy infestation in a lawn have a lighter color due to the horizontal ground ivy leaves reflecting more light than the veritical grass blades. Photo: Miri Talabac, University of Maryland Extension
Removing ground ivy
The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) regulates the sale of invasive plants and conducts invasive plant species status assessments. Ground ivy is on a list of species prioritized for assessment. Refer to the MDA's Invasive Plants Prevention and Control resource page for more information and a list of regulated species.
Ground ivy growing in a lawn
Maintain healthy, dense turf that can out-compete weeds and prevent their establishment. Fix drainage issues or reduce over-irrigation that contributes to the consistent soil moisture favored by ground ivy, or replant the area with groundcovers that thrive in those conditions. Let established tall fescue lawns go dormant in summer: only water when the weather has been dry for several weeks.
The manual removal of ground ivy is possible but not easy or practical for large infestations; it's more feasible for the beginning of an infestation when the ground ivy is still young. Tug rooted stems out of the ground using a sturdy metal rake. Some stems will break and need to be removed by hand or with a handheld tool. It will be easier to remove rooted stems when the soil is moist.
Ground ivy stolon (runner) pulled up before it could root into the soil. Photo: Home and Garden Information Center, University of Maryland Extension
Chemical management in lawns
Herbicide should be an approach of last resort. Spot-treat ground ivy with a liquid, selective, postemergent, broadleaf weed killer, applied when the weed is in actively growth. Look for a product with one or more of the following active ingredients: 2, 4-D, MCPP (mecoprop), Dicamba, or Triclopyr. More than one application will probably be necessary. Read and follow all product label directions.
Do not spray herbicides containing dicamba over the root zone of desirable trees and shrubs. Roots or leaves may absorb this ingredient and be substantially damaged. Refer to the product label for more specific precautions.
