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Ground-ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Found in lawns, gardens, forests, disturbed areas. FloraQuest, phone app (app page) What its natural habitat tells you

-55
Severe harm

Not native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 82%

Height
Plant height varies from about 2 to 24 inches [31,44,51,87,102].
Light
Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Usually moist
See native alternatives

Do not plant. Listed invasive in Virginia.

Plant this instead

Choose your county to list local plants first.

  • Narrowleaf Sundrops
    Oenothera fruticosa

    Sun: Full sun, Partial shade. Soil: Somewhat dry to moist. Flowers: Yellow.

    Similar growth form, height, evergreen or deciduous

  • Christmas Fern
    Polystichum acrostichoides

    Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Not applicable.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, soil moisture

  • Intermediate Wood-fern
    Dryopteris intermedia

    Sun: Dappled sunlight, Deep shade, Partial shade. Soil: Usually moist. Flowers: Not applicable.

    Similar growth form, evergreen or deciduous, soil moisture

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At a glance

Life cycle
Perennial
Leaves
Evergreen
Bloom
March to June
Fruiting season
May to July

Not yet recorded · Spread

Recorded in 105 Virginia counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 2

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 134 animals.

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

2CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Glechoma

  • Xanthorhoe ferrugataRed Twin-Spot, Twin-Spot Carpet
  • Xanthotype urticariaFalse Crocus Geometer
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Lamiaceae
Hardiness
Zones 3a–10b
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Blue or purple
Fruit begins
May
Fruit ends
July

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
  • Bloom · “Late March to June” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
  • Flower color · “Blue or purple” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Fruit begins · “May” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
  • Fruit ends · “July” · FloraQuest: Carolinas, Georgia (Southeastern Flora Team), phone app (app page) · Carolinas and Georgia
  • Hardiness · “Zones 3a–10b” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Height · “Plant height varies from about 2 to 24 inches (5-60 cm) [31,44,51,87,102].” · Fire Effects Information System: Glechoma hederacea (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs) · Source botanical description; original units and scope retained
  • Leaves · “Evergreen” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Life cycle · “Perennial” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Light · “Dappled sunlight (shade through upper canopy all day); Deep shade (less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial shade (direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil · “Moist; Occasionally wet” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
  • Soil pH · “Acidic to alkaline” · NC Extension Plant Toolbox
Also known as

Creeping Charlie; Glecoma hederacea; Ground Ivy

Conservation status

Virginia rankSNA
Global rankGNR
VA statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Sources