Nutrition and Diet: Can I Eat Creeping Charlie?

October 4, 2025 •

3 min read

Historically, European settlers purposely brought the plant known as creeping Charlie (or ground ivy) to North America for its medicinal and culinary properties, valuing it as a useful herb rather than a nuisance weed. The question of “Can I eat creeping Charlie?” comes with a long history of use, but also significant modern caveats concerning safety and preparation.

Quick Summary

This guide covers the edibility of the plant Glechoma hederacea, detailing its nutritional content, traditional uses, and specific risks like toxicity to certain animals. It provides proper identification techniques, safe preparation methods, and important precautions for anyone considering consuming this common wild herb.

Key Points

Edible in Moderation: Creeping Charlie is technically edible, but only in small, controlled quantities due to potentially toxic compounds like pulegone.
Risks for Animals: The plant is toxic to horses and other livestock in larger doses, a key safety consideration for farm owners.
Positive Identification is Crucial: Always confirm identification by checking for square stems and the characteristic minty odor to avoid lookalikes.
Forage in Clean Areas: Harvest only from locations free of herbicides, pesticides, and other pollutants to prevent contamination.
Nutritional Value: It is a good source of vitamin C, iron, potassium, and antioxidants, historically used for medicinal purposes.
Harvest Young Leaves: To minimize bitterness and pungent flavor, use younger, more tender leaves and flowers for culinary preparations.

What is Creeping Charlie?

Creeping Charlie, scientifically known as Glechoma hederacea, is a fast-growing, perennial herb in the mint family (Lamiaceae). Recognized by its round, kidney-shaped, or fan-shaped leaves with scalloped edges and square stems, it spreads aggressively via seeds and creeping stems. European settlers valued it as a medicinal herb and a ground cover, which is why it is now so widespread in North America. It thrives in shady, moist areas but can adapt to full sun, often outcompeting lawn grasses.

Identification and Lookalikes

Proper identification is paramount before consuming any wild plant. Creeping Charlie can be distinguished by its square stems and minty aroma when its leaves are crushed.

Leaves: Bright, shiny green, round to kidney-shaped, with scalloped edges.
Stems: Square-shaped stems, a defining characteristic of the mint family.
Flowers: Small, funnel-shaped, purplish to blue flowers, often appearing in clusters.
Growth Habit: A low-growing ground cover that forms dense mats and roots at each node.

Comparison Table: Creeping Charlie vs. Lookalikes


Feature	Creeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea)	Common Mallow (Malva neglecta)	Common Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
Family	Mint (Lamiaceae)	Mallow (Malvaceae)	Violet (Violaceae)
Stem	Square	Round	Round (no noticeable stem)
Leaves	Shiny, kidney-shaped with scalloped edges	Round, palmately veined, creased	Heart-shaped
Smell	Minty, especially when crushed	No distinctive odor	No distinctive odor
Growth	Creeping ground cover	Upright, herbaceous plant	Low-growing plant
Edibility	Edible in moderation	Edible	Edible

Nutritional Value and Potential Benefits

Creeping Charlie is a surprisingly nutritious wild edible, offering a good source of vitamin C, essential minerals like potassium, calcium, and iron, and beneficial antioxidants. It also contains compounds with traditional anti-inflammatory properties and has been historically used for respiratory support and to aid digestion.

Risks and Precautions

Despite its benefits, creeping Charlie contains pulegone, which can be toxic in large amounts, potentially causing liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal issues. It is also toxic to livestock, particularly horses. It's important to only forage from areas free of herbicides, and those with allergies or certain medical conditions, especially pregnant women, should avoid consumption.

Safe Preparation and Culinary Uses

When preparing creeping Charlie, harvest young leaves and flowers from clean areas. Thorough washing is essential. Young leaves can be used raw in small amounts in salads, cooked like spinach, made into tea, or used as a flavoring herb similar to mint or sage. Historically, it was even used to flavor beer.

Conclusion

While the answer to can I eat creeping Charlie? is technically yes, it comes with significant caveats. Historically used for both its medicinal properties and as a culinary herb, this invasive plant offers a surprising nutritional profile, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. However, its low-level toxicity, especially in larger quantities, means it must be consumed with caution and in moderation. Proper identification is non-negotiable to avoid mistaking it for other, potentially more toxic, species. For those who choose to forage and consume it, ensuring it comes from a chemical-free environment and using it as a flavoring or occasional addition rather than a dietary staple is the safest approach. The use of creeping Charlie should be approached with respect for its powerful compounds, honoring its traditional uses while prioritizing modern safety knowledge. For more detailed information on plant safety, consult an experienced herbalist or reference a reputable resource such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

The young leaves and flowers of creeping Charlie are edible. Younger leaves have a milder flavor and are less pungent than older ones.

Creeping Charlie is high in vitamin C and minerals like iron and potassium. Traditionally, it was used as a tonic to support respiratory issues, kidney disorders, and aid digestion.

Yes, creeping Charlie is known to be toxic to livestock, particularly horses, if they consume it in large quantities. Some sources also list it as poisonous to cats.

Ensure you have a positive identification from an unsprayed area. Use young leaves in small amounts. They can be added raw to salads, cooked like spinach, or steeped to make herbal tea.

Creeping Charlie has a distinct, pungent, and minty flavor, with a hint of sage. The taste can be quite strong, especially in more mature leaves.

In large doses, the plant can cause nausea and gastrointestinal upset due to a compound called pulegone, which is known to be an irritant. It is not recommended for pregnant women.

For the best flavor and texture, harvest the young, tender leaves in the spring. You can also harvest the flowers when they are fresh.