Ground Ivy
Perennial & invasive weed
Ground ivy is a low, aromatic evergreen perennial that creeps through lawns, under shrubs and across shady borders. It is not a true ivy, but its trailing stems can make a close mat that is difficult to lift cleanly. Small violet flowers are attractive in spring, although spreading plants can overwhelm short turf and delicate ground cover.
How to identify it
The square, trailing stems usually grow 5-20 cm high, rooting where they touch soil. Leaves occur in opposite pairs and are rounded to kidney-shaped with scalloped edges, often remaining green through winter. Crushed foliage has a noticeable scent. Small, two-lipped violet to blue-purple flowers appear in spring, usually in leaf axils. Fine roots form at many stem nodes, allowing pieces left behind to establish rapidly and spread sideways.
Where it grows
It favours damp or shaded soil, but also grows in lawns, hedge bottoms, woodland-style borders, path edges and beneath established shrubs throughout the UK. Evergreen leaves make it visible in winter, while new growth accelerates in spring. It is particularly successful in thin, shaded grass where turf cannot compete strongly.
Why it is a problem
Ground ivy spreads by long, rooting stems, making an interwoven mat that suppresses grass and small plants. It can quickly colonise bare areas beneath shrubs and escape into lawns. Mowing removes flowers but rarely eliminates it, because rooted nodes survive at soil level. Loose fragments may also establish wherever they are moved during gardening.
How to control it
Rake up trailing stems first, then use a hand fork to lift rooted sections and their fine roots, working after rain when soil loosens. In lawns, improve grass density by aerating compacted ground, overseeding bare patches and cutting appropriately. Hoe small new pieces in dry weather before they root. In borders, remove every stem fragment and apply mulch to bare soil. Check regularly through spring and autumn, as persistence is essential.
Commonly confused with
It may be confused with speedwell or dead-nettle. Ground ivy has a trailing, rooting habit, square stems and rounded scalloped leaves with a scent when crushed. Dead-nettles are more upright with larger pointed leaves, while speedwells usually have smaller, simpler blue flowers and do not form such extensive rooted runners.
Ground Ivy: frequently asked questions
How do I identify ground ivy?
The square, trailing stems usually grow 5-20 cm high, rooting where they touch soil.
How do I get rid of ground ivy?
Rake up trailing stems first, then use a hand fork to lift rooted sections and their fine roots, working after rain when soil loosens.
Where does ground ivy grow?
It favours damp or shaded soil, but also grows in lawns, hedge bottoms, woodland-style borders, path edges and beneath established shrubs throughout the UK.
General guidance for UK gardens and allotments, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed identification, the RHS or a local garden centre can help. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.