Hi all. I’m in Illinois. These plants came out of nowhere after I had my landscaper take out a few bushes last summer. It was just soil and now it has take over last few months. Can someone tell me what this is and how I can get rid of them? I don’t want it to spread to the grass where the kids play. Thank you
by CastAwayWings
2 Comments
The picture this app says Ground elder.
Non toxic to humans and pets and not considered weeds. I say keep it because if you tear it out actual weeds will start growing in bare soil
This is goutweed, also known as ground elder. It is Eurasian in origin and seriously invasive in North America. It spreads through rhizomes which can be several feet deep in the soil. It can and will spread out into your lawn, and beyond. Note that aside from invasiveness and out-competing natives it is not a “dangerous” or toxic plant. This is a significant bed of it, and you have two choices. One, you can choose to let it live and accept that it will spread everywhere. Two, you can choose to spend the rest of your life trying to eradicate it with the understanding that you will fail. Goutweed is a formidable foe.