Ground Elder

Ground Edler

Ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria), also known as bishop’s weed, or goutweed, is a herbaceous perennial, native to Europe and Asia. It was brought to America for ornamental purposes, often used as a low groundcover. It has broad, toothed leaves and umbrella-shaped clusters of small white flowers. Ground elder spreads by seeds and rhizomes, forming colonies. It can also spread via yard waste that has been discarded. Ground elder thrives in both sunny and shady environments. It is often seen overtaking woodland edges, quickly outcompeting native plants for resources. 

Keys To Success

Throughout the growing season ground elder is herbaceous and does not become woody. This makes it different to remove by hand because the rhizomes can break underground and send up new growth later. Ground elder can be removed over the course of several years by repeatedly hand pulling and/or controlled mowing throughout the growing season. The most effective treatments for ground elder are spot treatments or blanket treatments. Spot treatments are best for when the plant has first been established and you want to target it directly. Blanket treatments are for when the plant has formed colonies and large areas need to be eradicated.