Plant Details

Aegopodium podagraria

Ground Elder, Bishop's goutweed, Goutweed, Bishop's Weed

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Common names

47 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Bishop's goutweed[2]
  • Bishop's Weed
  • English Masterwort[2]
+6 more namesShow fewer names
  • Goutweed[2]
  • Ground Elder[2]
  • Ground-elder[1][2]
  • Herb Gerard[2]
  • Snow on the Mountain[2]
  • Wild Masterwort[2]
Other languages (31)
Dutch
French
  • Herbe aux goutteux[2]
  • Podagraire[2]
  • Égopode podagraire[2]
Arabic
  • رجل العنزة البستانية[2]
Belarusian
  • Снітка звычайная[2]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Chuvash
  • Серте[2]
Czech
  • bršlice kozí noha[2]
Danish
  • Skvalderkål[2]
Estonian
  • Harilik naat[2]
Faroese
  • tásársgeitarkál[2]
Finnish
  • lehtovuohenputki[2]
  • vuohenputki[2]
German
+1 more nameShow fewer names
  • Zipperleinskraut[1]
Hungarian
  • Podagrafű[2]
Icelandic
Irish
  • Lus an easpaig[2]
Italian
  • Girardina silvestre[2]
Japanese
  • イワミツバ[2]
Latvian
  • Podagras gārsa[2]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji garšva[2]
Norwegian
  • Skvallerkål[2]
Polish
  • Podagrycznik pospolity[2]
  • Śnitka[2]
Russian
  • Сныть обыкновенная[2]
Saterland Frisian
  • Gäisekool[2]
Serbian
Slovak
  • kozonoha hostcová[2]
Slovenian
  • navadna regačica[2]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Keçiayağı[2]
Ukrainian
  • Яглиця звичайна[2]
Welsh
  • Llysiau'r gymalwst[2]
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Aegopodium podagraria L. ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Giersch — VernacularName.tsv, line 138548; taxon 6594Z.
  • Geißfuß — VernacularName.tsv, line 138640; taxon 6594Z.
  • Ground-elder (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138641; taxon 6594Z.
  • Zipperleinskraut (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 138642; taxon 6594Z.
[2] Aegopodium podagraria — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Goutweed — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Bishop's Goutweed — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Ground-elder — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Snow on the Mountain — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Égopode podagraire — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Podagraire — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Herbe aux goutteux — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • sedmolist — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • vuohenputki — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Giersch — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Geißfuß — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Сныть обыкновенная — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Podagrycznik pospolity — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Śnitka — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Kirskål — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Zevenblad — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • bršlice kozí noha — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Skvalderkål — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Paprastoji garšva — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Herb Gerard — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Wild Masterwort — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • English Masterwort — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Podagrafű — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Skvallerkål — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Gäisekool — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Harilik naat — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Podagras gārsa — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • رجل العنزة البستانية — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Серте — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Lus an easpaig — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Geitakál — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Llysiau'r gymalwst — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • lehtovuohenputki — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • イワミツバ — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • 羊角芹 — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • 羊角芹 — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • kozonoha hostcová — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Girardina silvestre — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Gewöhnlicher Giersch — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • tásársgeitarkál — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Снітка звычайная — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Яглиця звичайна — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • navadna regačica — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Ground Elder — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.
  • Keçiayağı — results[0].names[46]; taxon id 51741; Aegopodium podagraria.

General information

Scientific name: Aegopodium podagraria
Accepted name (Kew): Aegopodium podagraria L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Apiaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Aegopodium (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Ground Elder, Bishop's goutweed, Goutweed, Bishop's Weed
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.15–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.46 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Fast
Sources [3]
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth habit: Creeping, Dense, Horizontal, Mounding, Prostrate, Spreading

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Moist

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Partial Shade
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Leaves
Edibility rating:
(3)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
None

Description

Leaves can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have an unusual spicy flavor that most people do not enjoy, although some reports claim that it is a delicious vegetable. The leaves are best harvested before the plant flowers and can be used in salads, soups, or cooked as a vegetable.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 01/05
Harvest ends: 30/06

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 944131; name ID 2623486; Aegopodium L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 944151; name ID 2623499; Aegopodium podagraria L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Aegopodium podagraria

    Taxonomic data from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1925636, ID 6594Z: Aegopodium podagraria L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Aegopodium podagraria — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth rateGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .