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Ground-Elder

Ground-Elder

Aegopodium podagraria

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How common: Very common

Ground-elder is a tall, long‑lived plant in the carrot family with bright green, divided leaves and flat sprays of small white flowers. It spreads strongly by long underground stems and often forms dense patches. You are likely to see it in rich, shady places and in gardens.

Did you know?

  • It can quickly take over garden beds by creeping underground and forming thick carpets.
  • The flat, white flower sprays attract many kinds of insects.

About the species

Identification

30–100 cm tall. Stems hairless, slightly angled and hollow (firmer at the joints). Leaves bright green; lower leaves with a long stalk whose base wraps the stem. Each leaf has a broad triangular outline and is divided into three main parts, each again into three leaflets (3+3+3). Leaflets are long oval with toothed edges, often slightly lobed; undersides usually softly hairy. Flowers small and white in many flat‑topped clusters. Seeds small, dark brown, in two parts. The 3+3+3 leaf pattern and grooved leaf stalk help separate it from similar white‑flowered relatives. Flowers in Finland from June to August.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

herb-rich forest, yards and roadsides

Flowering

Jun–Aug

About the habitat

Grows in rich, moist soils: in deciduous woods, along streams and forest edges, on field margins and pastures, and in gardens. Common in southern and central Finland.

Sources

Photo: Beko, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria).jpg

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki leviäimet, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39201

Text: Pinkka: Verso- ja leviäintunnistus - Kaikki versot, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39201

Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39201

Text: Pinkka: IPS-177 Fennoscandian flora - Acer-Butomus, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39201

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vuohenputki

See also