Plant Details

Glechoma hederacea

Ground Ivy, Aleroot

Back

Explore the size, hardiness, soil, light, edible uses and harvest period of Glechoma hederacea.

Use this plant

Log in to add this plant to your own recipes.

Sign In

General Information

Scientific name: Glechoma hederacea
Also known as: Ground Ivy, Aleroot

Plant Properties

Layer: Herbaceous, Ground cover
Size: Small
Height: 0.20 m
Width: 1.00 m
Growth Rate: None
Leaf: None

Growth conditions

USDA Hardiness: 3-10
Soil Moisture:
Moist
Soil:
Loam (medium) Clay (heavy)
pH:
Acidic Neutral Alkaline
Light:
Partial shade, Full sun

Usage properties

Edible part:
Leaves, Condiment, Tea
Edibility:
(2)
Medicinal:
(3)
Features:
Bee forage, Ground cover

Description

Young leaves of the ground-ivy plant can be eaten both raw and cooked. They have a somewhat bitter taste and are perfect for salads. Additionally, they can also be used in dishes instead of spinach or as a seasoning, such as in soups. These leaves can be harvested early in the year and are ideal for making herbal tea, both fresh and dried. They are often mixed with verbena leaves. Furthermore, the herbs can be added to beer as a substitute for hops, which was the most common method of brewing beer before the 16th century.

Harvest Data

Start Harvest: 01/03
End of Harvest: 31/10