We'll do away with the prejudice that ground ivy are weeds. You can find out from us how to use the herbaceous plant decoratively and what benefits it has for he alth and in the kitchen.
The ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) is often dismissed as an undesirable weed due to its rapid growth and rapid spread. But you can take advantage of the properties of the plant and put it on the balcony as a green ornamental plant in winter or brew a ground ivy tea.
Gundermann: origin and characteristics
Gundermann originally comes from Europe, but was carried off by humans and has since been distributed across the temperate latitudes and can therefore also be found in Asia, North America and New Zealand. The plant, which belongs to the mint family (Lamiaceae), is also known as ground ivy, ground ivy, ground ivy. The ground ivy herb is winter green and perennial. It grows on almost any type of soil as long as it is sufficiently moist.
You can recognize the ground ivy by the creeping growth form of the rooted stem and by its upright shoots that grow up to about 20 cm in height. The round ground ivy leaves are slightly notched at the edge and arranged in pairs. The calyxes are up to 7 mm long and are usually blue-violet, sometimes pink and white in colour. They appear around April to July. The colorful flowers offer plenty of nectar for insects, which makes the plant particularly bee-friendly.
Confusion of ground ivy: Ground ivy is actually easy to distinguish from other plants. The easiest to confuse with ground ivy is the creeping bugle (Ajuga reptans) with a smaller and more graceful habit and glossy leaves. The plants can be distinguished more clearly in the flowering period: the creeping bugle only flowers from April to May and is therefore much shorter than the ground ivy.
Gundermannplant: location, sowing and Co.
Possible locations for ground ivy are diverse and range from deciduous forests to field edges to gardens. The Gundermann feels most comfortable in a sunny to shaded location. An optimal soil would be humic, nutritious and calcareous, as well as sufficiently moist. Partial shade or light shade is well suited for ground gondola.
The ground ivy can be sown directly into the bed or planter between September and October. To do this, the Gundermann seeds are spread out, covered lightly with soil, poured with a fine spray and kept moist until germination. High-quality potting soil is suitable for growing in pots, as well as for pre-cultivating ground ivy, and adding expanded clay or coarse gravel to improve its drainage properties. For example, our Plantura organic universal soil offers the possibility of storing water thanks to its high coconut and wood fiber content. At the same time, it contains all the nutrients that are necessary for he althy germination and growth of the ground ivy.
Alternatively, the ground ivy can be pre-cultivated between January and mid-March and planted out in spring. Early seedlings are not available. If ground ivy plants are already present in the garden, root shoots can be cut off and placed in water until they form new roots. The rooted shoots can finally be planted out. For a dense growth, they can be planted closer than when sowing, with a planting distance of about 20 cm and a row spacing of also 20 cm.
Tip: The variegated variety Glechoma hederacea 'Variegata' with white variegated leaves makes an excellent winter green ornamental plant on the balcony. The ground ivy is also ideal as a hanging plant.
The right care
Caring for ground ivy is uncomplicated. In the bed, it only needs a little water during longer dry periods, the soil should always be slightly moist and only watered when necessary. Ground ivy in the pot should be watered from time to time so that the plant does not dry out.
For long-term good growth, however, a regular supply of nutrients is necessary. Especially in the small soil volume of a pot, it is worth fertilizing twice a year with a slow-release fertilizer. For example, our primarily organic Plantura organic universal fertilizer is suitablewhich supplies the plant with all the important nutrients and at the same time promotes active soil life thanks to its high organic content. So you don't have to repot the Gundermann as often because the fertility of the potting soil is preserved. The composition of the organic fertilizer from natural raw materials also saves resources during production and protects the environment.
Further care, such as regular pruning, is not necessary for ground ivy, but possible. If the ground ivy spreads too much, it can be kept in check by selective weeding of individual plants.
Is ground ivy hardy? Yes, the ground ivy plant is hardy. Gundermann can be left outside on the balcony or uncovered in the bed in winter, as it tolerates temperatures down to double-digit minus at times.
Gundermann as a weed in the lawn
Gundermann grows very quickly and spreads both by self-seeding and by roots creeping on the ground. The herb only harms indirectly by competing with the lawn for water, light and nutrients.
What helps against ground ivy in the lawn? To combat ground ivy, regular weeding and mowing as well as removing the lawn clippings help, as this prevents seeding and renewed germination. Widespread ground ivy should be carefully rooted out before the lawn is seeded again. The long shoots in particular should be removed regularly until the plant is completely controlled. The best time to combat is in early spring, before the ground ivy flowers. You should never dispose of seeding wild herbs in the compost at home, as the seeds survive the composting without any problems and can be spread throughout the garden by distributing the compost.
We always advise against the use of selective pesticides against dicot plants such as ground ivy, as this can lead to long-term damage: They are potentially harmful to insects that live on the ground and lawn and can promote lawn problems such as thatch and moss. Unfortunately, selective organic pesticides are not available.
Hint: GrowingIf.webp the lawn is a little less dense in some parts of the garden, possibly under trees, it is definitely worth considering keeping or even sowing ground ivy there. Because its creeping growth habit and fast growth make Gundermann an excellent ground cover.
Is ground ivy poisonous or edible?
Can you eat ground ivy raw? Yes, ground ivy can be eaten raw. However, it is probably slightly toxic to humans because of the glechomine it contains. Glechomine has not yet been researched particularly well, but it can cause nausea if consumed in excess. Thanks to its slightly bitter aroma, ground ivy is suitable as a spice or as an addition to salads, but should not be eaten in large quantities.
For which animals is ground ivy poisonous? Grazing animals such as horses or cattle and rodents - especially guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits - do not tolerate the ground ivy. Some of the secondary components of ground ivy can be highly toxic to these animals, larger amounts can also be mildly toxic to humans and cause nausea.
Harvest Gundermann
Gundermann can be harvested from the beginning of May. To do this, young shoots or individual leaves and flowers can be cut off with small, sharp pruning shears or carefully clipped off with your fingers. Only as much should be harvested as the plant can tolerate: Always leave enough shoots for further, he althy growth. The shoots, leaves and ground ivy flowers are edible. Dried ground ivy can be stored well and boiled up later to make a tea if there is a lack of fresh ground ivy.
Use and Effect of Gundermann
The ground ivy has been used as a medicinal and kitchen plant since the 12th century. The essential oils contained, which are released when the leaves are crushed, are said to inhibit inflammation and at the same time offer numerous uses in the kitchen: It is very popular as a spice, for green pesto and as a salad ingredient. Because its minty, slightly bitter and pungent flavor is rather strong, it should be used sparingly. The ground ivy stimulates the metabolism and, according to folk medicine, is said to be able to help with chronic bladder and kidney diseases. Brewed as a tea, the Gundermann gets onesaid to have a soothing effect on numerous ailments such as liver problems, abscesses, tumors and eye problems.
Are you now thinking about ground ivy in the kitchen and as a medicinal herb? With us you will find other edible ground cover for your garden for an exciting wild herb salad.