ground ivy

American  

noun

1. a creeping, aromatic plant, Glechoma hederacea, of the mint family, having rounded leaves and whorling clusters of small blue flowers.

---

ground ivy British  

noun

1. a creeping or trailing Eurasian aromatic herbaceous plant, Glechoma (or Nepeta ) hederacea, with scalloped leaves and purplish-blue flowers: family Lamiaceae (labiates)

---

Etymology

Origin of ground ivy

Middle English word dating back to 1300–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ground ivy

Forget the impending dandelions and violets; I’m talking about established winter weeds, whose roots now go deep — interlopers like henbit, chickweed, bittercress and ground ivy.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 29, 2021

It was designed to control weeds such as dandelions, clover, thistle, plantains and ground ivy.

From Reuters ● Sep. 15, 2014

Or, rub the head several times a day with vinegar in which ground ivy leaves have been infused.

From Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British Isles by Tuke, Daniel Hack

The banks by Brighton in early spring are purple with the flowers of ground ivy, which flowers with exceptional freedom.

From The Life of the Fields by Jefferies, Richard

She came with the dog violets and the ground ivy and the meadow orchises, and several other lovely purple things, at least that was how her advent was always associated in Avelyn's mind.

From For the School Colours by Brazil, Angela