Ground elder

Description:

Alsok nown as herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, and snow-in-the-mountain. Once established, it can reduce the diversity of ground cover, and prevent the establishment of tree and shrub seedlings. Because of this it has been described as a nuisance species, and been labeled one of the "worst" garden weeds in perennial flower gardens. Removing flowers before seed set may help control the spread of goutweed. The tender leaves have been used in antiquity and throughout the Middle Ages as a spring leaf vegetable, much as spinach was used. It also had a history as a medicinal herb to treat gout and arthritis, applied in hot wraps externally upon boiling both leaves and roots together. Ingested, the leaves have a diuretic effect and act as a mild sedative.

Habitat:

shady places. It is thus recommended to plant goutweed only on sites not adjacent to wildlands and in gardens where root spread can be restricted (e.g., between a sidewalk and a house)

Notes:

This species is native to Eurasia, and has been introduced around the world as an ornamental plant, where it can pose an ecological threat due to its invasive nature, with potential to crowd out native species. A variegated form is grown as an ornamental plant, though with the advice to keep it isolated.