Recently, I bought a pot of Ground Ivy at the Jianguo Holiday Flower Market. The above is its cute picture. Then, because I was so excited, I compiled some basic information about Ground Ivy.
You can watch the video for a quick overview: (Jus play the Video directly and the English Subtitle will show up):
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What is Ground Ivy
Ground Ivy (scientific name: Glechoma hederacea) is a species of Lamiaceae. It is a perennial herb with a plant height of about 10-20cm. It mainly grows in subtropical areas, hillsides, and broad-leaved forests below 2600m above sea level in Asia.
Ground Ivy has a variety of medicinal uses and is often used to make Sachin. European immigrants brought ground Ivy to other continents, and it has become a naturalized plant in different regions.
How to Plant and Grow Ground Ivy?
Ground Ivy has a very strong vitality and is even regarded as a difficult weed to control in some areas, so the Gardening know how’s website is full of articles on “How to get rid of Ground Ivy”. In Asia, however, since it’s relatively rare, it is sometimes sold as a valuable herb or herbal medicine.
Ground Ivy is not difficult to grow, it grows particularly well in moist, shaded areas, but is also very receptive to sunlight. According to Perennials.com, it can live in Full Sun or Partial Shade in mid-spring. It blooms at the end of spring, and it will use stolons and underground stems to reproduce quickly, growing fast and can be grown in almost any type of soil.
According to a gardening website Groww’s guidelines, if you want to grow ground ivy, it’s best to sow it between September and the end of November or March to the end of April, when the temperature is not too low but not too hot, suitable for Ground Ivy to grow.
Bury the roots a few centimeters when planting. Compact the soil around it to avoid trapping air. Moisturize the soil with water immediately after planting. If you are growing in a pot, use a pot that has enough space for the plant. You can use gravel on the bottom of soil, compost, or compost mix for better drainage. Regular watering is required in the first few weeks after sowing, make sure you avoid watering in the middle of the day to reduce the evaporation of water. The topsoil in the pot can be checked by looking or touching it with your fingers, if it’s too dry it’s time to water.
Ground Ivy Uses and Side Effects
Ground Ivy can be used to make tea and is rich in vitamin C. I personally think the aroma is very similar to catnip. It can also be mixed in salads or eaten with cheese, and it can also be used for scrambled eggs. It can also be used to add flavor to baking goods. They are often used as medicinal plants in traditional Chinese and Australian cultures, but their medicinal effects are actually quite controversial, and further research is needed.
The essential oil of Ground Ivy contains terpenoids, which can easily irritate the stomach, and pulegone, which can cause liver damage.
A 2012 study showed that if the fodder for horses contains more than 30% Ground Ivy, the horses will experience poisoning reactions such as dilated pupils and difficulty breathing, but 30% of the fodder must be very large. amount. According to WebMD, people with poor liver and kidneys, those with a history of epilepsy, and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding should also avoid consuming Ground Ivy.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ground Ivy
Below is a list of frequently asked questions related to Ground Ivy.
What is Ground Ivy?
Ground Ivy (scientific name: Glechoma hederacea) is a species of Lamiaceae. It is a perennial herb with a plant height of about 10-20cm. It mainly grows in subtropical areas, hillsides, and broad-leaved forests below 2600m above sea level in Asia.
Ground Ivy has a variety of medicinal uses and is often used to make Sachin. European immigrants brought ground Ivy to other continents, and it has become a naturalized plant in different regions.
Is Ground Ivy Edible?
Yes, it’s edible. However, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have liver and kidney disease, it should not be consumed.
It can be eaten as a salad or used for stir-frying. The dried leaves can be used to make tea, it goes very well with verbena or lovage, and can also be used as a spice for cooking or baking.
What Are the Medical Effects of Ground Ivy?
According to the information about ground ivy compiled by the American medical science website WebMD, in the past, people took ground ivy as a home remedy to relieve many symptoms, including arthritis and other joint pains, tinnitus, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, Bladder infections, bladder and kidney stones, and more.
However, the above effects of ground ivy are not supported by modern scientific research. In addition to that, ground ivy contains substances that may damage the liver, cause miscarriage, irritate the stomach and kidneys. You should consult your physician before consuming ground ivy.
What are the Side Effects of Ground Ivy?
According to information about ground ivy compiled by WebMD, ground ivy is rated as “POSSIBLY SAFE” when used as a flavoring or in trace amounts. Consuming a large amount of ground ivy by mouth might irritate the stomach and kidneys. Application to the skin may cause tingling or itching in some people.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Mint is rated as “UNSAFE” for use while pregnant and has a risk of miscarriage. It’s best to avoid ground ivy if you’re breastfeeding, as there isn’t enough research to say whether ground ivy is safe for nursing babies.
Kidney disease: Ground ivy contains chemicals that can irritate the kidneys. Do not use ground ivy if you have kidney problems.
Liver disease: Ground ivy contains chemicals that can damage the liver. It may worsen existing liver disease. Do not use ground ivy if you have liver problems.
Why Do Some People See Ground Ivy as a Weed?
According to an article about the ground ivy on the website of the University of Minnesota, ground ivy not only has strong vitality and spreads quickly but also has a property called “allelopathy”, which produces biochemical substances that prevent the survival of surrounding plants and inhibit the growth of surrounding plants, causing the health of other plants in the vicinity of the ground ivy to suffer.
Ground Ivy Is Out of Control! How to Get Rid of or Reduce It?
If you don’t want to use herbicides, you can use a tactic called Solarization, cover the soil with a clear plastic sheet during the warmer months of spring and summer, the clear plastic sheet will absorb the heat and sunlight, and the soil temperature will rise to the temperatures that is too hot for ground ivy to survive, this practice can take five to six months and remove the plastic sheeting in late fall when soil temperatures are 35-55°F.
Chemical herbicides containing Glyphosate or Triclopyr can also be used. Glyphosate herbicide applications are most effective on warm days when plants are actively growing. Avoid use in windy weather to ensure herbicide application does not drift onto other plants. If there are surviving weeds after one application, a second application can be done in 7-10 days.
How to Plant and Grow Ground Ivy?
Ground Ivy has a very strong vitality and is even regarded as a difficult weed to control in some areas, so the Gardening know how’s website is full of articles on “How to get rid of Ground Ivy”. In Asia, however, since it’s relatively rare, it is sometimes sold as a valuable herb or herbal medicine.
Ground Ivy is not difficult to grow, it grows particularly well in moist, shaded areas, but is also very receptive to sunlight. According to Perennials.com, it can live in Full Sun or Partial Shade in mid-spring. It blooms at the end of spring, and it will use stolons and underground stems to reproduce quickly, growing fast and can be grown in almost any type of soil.
According to a gardening website Groww’s guidelines, if you want to grow ground ivy, it’s best to sow it between September and the end of November or March to the end of April, when the temperature is not too low but not too hot, suitable for Ground Ivy to grow.
Bury the roots a few centimeters when planting. Compact the soil around it to avoid trapping air. Moisturize the soil with water immediately after planting. If you are growing in a pot, use a pot that has enough space for the plant. You can use gravel on the bottom of soil, compost, or compost mix for better drainage. Regular watering is required in the first few weeks after sowing, make sure you avoid watering in the middle of the day to reduce the evaporation of water. The topsoil in the pot can be checked by looking or touching it with your fingers, if it’s too dry it’s time to water.
What are some books related to Herb?
If you’re specifically interested in books related to herb, here are some titles that can offer you insights into these topics,Of course those are affiliate links but those are the books I genuinely think are interesting :
Herbal Guides
- “Pacific Northwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 120 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness” (2017) by Scott Kloos – Written by an herbalist and wildcrafter, this book is focused on the medicinal herbs found in the Pacific Northwest and is based on scientific understanding of plant chemistry and ecology.
Medicinal Herbs
- “Adaptogens: Herbs for Strength, Stamina, and Stress Relief” (2019) by David Winston and Steven Maimes – The book delves into how adaptogens, a class of herbs, help the body adapt to stress.
- “Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine” (Though published in 2003, it’s still a cornerstone in herbal medicine) – David Hoffmann – A comprehensive work from a scientific perspective, suitable for those with some background in biology or medicine
Culinary Herbs
- “The Science of Spice: Understand Flavor Connections and Revolutionize Your Cooking” (2018) by Dr. Stuart Farrimond – This book examines the science behind the flavor of various herbs and spices, helping you understand how to use them more effectively in cooking.
References：
- Glechoma hederacea ‘Variegata’. perennials.com.
- Creeping Charlie: Management and Value to Pollinators | Turfgrass Science . turf.umn.edu.
- GROUND IVY: Overview, Uses, Side Effects, Precautions, Interactions, Dosing and Reviews. WebMD.
- Glechoma hederacea.wiki
- How To Kill Creeping Charlie Plant.gardening knowhow.
- GROUND IVY.Webmd.
- Vanselow, R., & Brendieck-Worm, C. (2012). Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea) and the cause of toxicosis in horses. Zeitschrift für ganzheitliche Tiermedizin, 26(03), 88-93.
- Terpenoid.wiki
- Pulegone.wiki
- Henry, D. Y., Gueritte-Voegelein, F., Insel, P. A., Ferry, N., Bouguet, J., Potier, P., Sevenet, T., & Hanoune, J. (1987). Isolation and characterization of 9-hydroxy-10-trans,12-cis-octadecadienoic acid, a novel regulator of platelet adenylate cyclase from Glechoma hederacea L. Labiatae. European journal of biochemistry, 170(1-2), 389–394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1987.tb13712.x
- An, H. J., Jeong, H. J., Um, J. Y., Kim, H. M., & Hong, S. H. (2006). Glechoma hederacea inhibits inflammatory mediator release in IFN-gamma and LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 106(3), 418–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2006.01.024
- Komprda, T., Stohandlová, M., Foltýn, J., Pozdísek, J., & Míka, V. (1999). Content of p-coumaric and ferulic acid in forbs with potential grazing utilization. Archiv fur Tierernahrung, 52(1), 95–105. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450399909386154
- Kühn, H., Wiesner, R., Alder, L., & Schewe, T. (1989). Occurrence of free and esterified lipoxygenase products in leaves of Glechoma hederacea L. and other Labiatae. European journal of biochemistry, 186(1-2), 155–162. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1989.tb15190.
- Kumarasamy, Y., Cox, P. J., Jaspars, M., Nahar, L., & Sarker, S. D. (2002). Biological activity of Glechoma hederacea. Fitoterapia, 73(7-8), 721–723. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0367-326x(02)00237-x
- Safety of herbal medicinal products. Medicines Control Agency. https://hfnet.nih.go.jp/usr/kiso/ninpu-herb/HerbalsSafetyReportJuly2002_Final.pdf. Published July 2002.
- Zieba J. (1973). Isolation and identification of flavonoids from Glechoma hederacea L. Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy, 25(6), 593–597.
- Zieba J. (1973). Isolation and identification of non-heteroside triterpenoids from Glechoma hederacea L. Polish journal of pharmacology and pharmacy, 25(6), 587–592.