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Ground-ivy

©Philip Precey

Ground-ivy

Despite its name, Ground-ivy is actually a member of the dead-nettle family. It is a clump-forming, aromatic plant that likes woodlands, hedgerows and damp places.

Enw gwyddonol

Glechoma hederacea

Pryd i'w gweld

January to December

Gwybodaeth am rywogaethau

Ystadegau

Height: up to 50cm
Common.

Ynghylch

Despite its name, Ground-ivy is actually a member of the dead-nettle family and is not closely related to Ivy. It is an evergreen, creeping plant of woodlands, hedgerows and damp ground. It often forms clumps, spreading by means of overground runners that frequently root. It has a strong smell and violet flowers that appear from March until June.

Sut i'w hadnabod

Ground-ivy has kidney-shaped, bright green leaves, with toothed margins, that stick out from the stem on longish stalks. Its violet flowers appear in whorls of two to four and are funnel-shaped. It smells strongly of blackcurrant or even tom-cats.

Dosbarthiad

Widespread.

Roeddech chi yn gwybod?

The fragrant leaves of Ground-ivy once made it a popular bittering agent for beer until Hops eventually replaced it.