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Ground Ivy Flower Wikimedia Commons
Lamiaceae

Ground Ivy Flower

Glechoma hederacea

Persistence and healing.

Family
Lamiaceae
Genus
Glechoma
Native to
Europe, Western Asia
Bloom season
Spring, Early Summer
Type
perennial herb
Height
0.1-0.5 ft
Sunlight
part shade to full shade
Soil
moist, fertile, any type
Water
moderate
Hardiness
3-10
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Before hops became standard, Ground Ivy was the primary bittering and preserving agent in beer production throughout medieval Europe.
  • Its older name 'Gill-over-the-ground' comes from the French 'guiller' meaning to ferment, referencing its role in brewing.
  • The plant contains compounds with anti-inflammatory properties and was used in traditional medicine to treat ear infections and coughs.
  • It spreads via stolons that root at every node, and a single plant can colonize several square yards in one growing season.
  • In Elizabethan England, it was called 'Alehoof' and was so important to brewing that its sale was regulated by local authorities.

Color meanings

0

tenacity

1

humble usefulness

Uses

  • historical brewing ingredient
  • herbal medicine
  • ground cover in shady areas