WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Common and widespread throughout the UK. Habitat includes: Disturbed places with fertile soil sch as woodland, hedgerows, grassland, roadside verges, wasteland, gardens, parks, allotments, cemeteries / churchyards etc. Stoloniferous Perennial. It usually spreads vegetatively by rapid growth of its creeping stems / runners, and seed-set is often very low. Other names include: Gill-over-the-ground, Creeping Charlie, Ale-hoof, Tun-hoof, Cats-foot, Field Balm, Run-away-Robin, Creeping Jenny. Ground Ivy is 'gynodiecious' with genets being either Female or Hermaphrodite. Females depend upon hermaphrodites for pollination. It spends the winter as either a small ramet or a small rosette. Flowers March to July. Each pollinated flower can produce up to four seeds, which are dispersed by the stem bending over and depositing the ripe seeds on the ground adjacent to the parent plant. Ants may carry the seeds further. The seeds germinate a few days after contact with moisture. Height: Up to 50 cm.