Common Name: Ground Elder

General Information

Aegopodium podagraria is a herbaceous, perennial plant with slender far-creeping, underground rhizomes that, at intervals, form new erect stems. The plant can form large mats of leafy growth 20 - 30cm tall, with flowering stems up to 100cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.This species was cultivated in the Middle Ages as a medicinal and food plant[, , , ]. There is a variegated form of the plant that is less invasive and is sometimes grown in the ornamental garden[].
A very invasive plant, spreading freely at the roots[, , ]. Once established it can be very difficult to eradicate because any small piece of root left in the ground can regrow[]. The plant has often escaped from cultivation and become established in the native habitat - seed is not usually the problem, it is more common that parts of the plant have been dumped by gardeners and these parts will usually root and carry on growing, thus introducing the plant to a new area[]

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Most of Europe, including Britain, to western Asia and Siberia.

Habitat

Hedgerows and cultivated land[]. A common garden weed[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Flies
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Plants are hardy to at least -15°c[].
Prefers damp shady conditions[, , ] but succeeds in most soils[]. Prefers a well-drained soil, succeeding in sun or shade[].
Plants seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked[, , , , , ]. An unusual tangy flavour[], the majority of people we give it to do not like it[] although some reports say that it makes a delicious vegetable[]. The leaves are best harvested before the plant comes into flower, they can be used in salads, soups, or cooked as a vegetable[].

Medicinal

Ground Elder has a long history of medicinal use and was cultivated as a food crop and medicinal herb in the Middle Ages. The plant was used mainly as a food that could counteract gout, one of the effects of the rich foods eaten by monks, bishops etc at this time. The plant is little used in modern herbalism.

All parts of the plant are antirheumatic, diuretic, sedative and vulnerary[, , , , ]. An infusion is used in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and disorders of the bladder and intestines[].
Externally, the plant is used as a poultice on burns, stings, wounds, painful joints etc[, ].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the flowering plant[]. It is used in the treatment of arthritis and rheumatism[].

The plant is harvested when it is in flower in late spring to mid-summer and can be used fresh or be dried for later use[, ].

Agroforestry Uses:

This species makes a good ground-cover for semi-wild situations, quickly covering large areas[, ]. It can be quite effective in the dappled shade of a clump of trees[]. Do not grow the plant if it is not already native to your area and make sure that it has plenty of room since it can be very invasive and is considered to be a weed in many gardens[, ]. If introducing this plant to your garden, it might be best to restrict the roots either by growing the plant in a bottomless container buried in the soil, or by making sure there are natural barriers that will stop the plant's spread[, ].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer.
Division in spring. Very easy, divisions can be carried out at almost any time of the year and the divisions can be planted out straight into their permanent positions.