Ground ivy

Glechoma hederacea

Layer 5 · Ground cover
Ground cover

Status by region

No restrictions recorded in the lists we checked.

Checked against the European Union list (Regulation 1143/2014) · Portugal's national invasive species list (Decreto-Lei 92/2019).

Information based on the cited sources, not legal advice — always confirm your local rules.

About

Native to Europe and Northern Asia, ground ivy is a perennial herbaceous plant with a prostrate habit that spreads rapidly via creeping stems. In a food forest, it functions as an excellent living ground cover for the ground layer, protecting the soil from desiccation and erosion in shaded areas.

See which trees ground ivy grows well with

These trees share this species' soil and climate — the pairing is inferred from conditions, not from a guild we have already seen.

No account needed.

Needs

Water: Medium
Light: Partial shade
Size: Creeping up to 15 cm
Mature diameter: 0.5 m
Soils: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Limestone
Climates: Atlantic coast, Inland / Continental, Mountain / cold

Calendar

January
February
March — Planting
April — Harvest — Planting
May — Harvest
June — Harvest
July — Harvest
August
September
October — Planting
November — Planting
December

Harvest
Planting

Medicinal use: Prepared as a digestive and expectorant infusion to soothe coughs.

Where to buy

Central trees worth considering

May work well together — same soil and climate, complementary layers. We have not seen this combination in a generated guild yet.

May grow well with

Suggestions worked out from growing conditions — same soil and climate, complementary layers and functions. These are not observed guilds; treat them as a starting point to try on your own land.