How to Grow and Care for Goutweeds

Aegopodium podagraria, commonly known as ground elder, is a herbaceous perennial native to Eurasia. Origin of its common name lies in the shape of its leaves and flowers, somewhat similar to elderberry. Ground elder is often cultivated as an ornamental plant. Due to its fast spread via rhizomes, it is considered an invasive species in certain countries.

Develop and shake the rhizomes. The stem height is 20 to 70 cm, the stem is thin, upright and the upper part is branched. The leaves alternate, and the root leaves and the lower leaves of the stem are two to three winged leaves, with coarse serrations on the edge of the leaflets. The leaves attached to the upper part of the stem are smaller than those at the lower part, and the tip of the leaflet is elongated and elongated. The base of the petiole swells like a sheath. A small compound inflorescence is attached to the top of the stem or branched tip. There are no buds, and the flower is a white five-valve flower, and there are no total buds under the double-split inflorescences commonly found in the Apiaceae and small buds under the florets. The fruit is egg-shaped and hairless, and there is no oil tube commonly found in the Apiaceae family.

Ground elder 'Variegatum' got its name from its varied two-colored green and cream leaves. This mixed color sets this hybrid apart from the parent plant, which has plain green leaves. This plant is used by gardeners as groundcover since it forms a dense mat that keeps out weeds effectively.