Weed of the Week: Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

Ground ivy can be found in many countries around the world and grows aggressively. It is often viewed as a highly invasive weed in lawns and gardens. It is notoriously hard to remove and control.

The good news? It tastes like mint (sort of). Ground ivy makes a good mint substitute and can also be used as an herb in cooking. Makes sense since it is part of the Lamiacae family which includes well known herbs such as basil, mint, oregano, and thyme.

Being an abundant and easily identifiable weed with few lookalikes, its an easy plant for beginners to cultivate. It is best to pick the smaller leaves as the larger ones can be bitter.

Note: A bit like cilantro, the taste is a bit polarizing. Some people love it, others find it unpalatable.