 |
| Bishop Weed, also known as Goutweed ~ Aegopodium podagraria |
My experience with both varieties of Bishop Weed is a love/hate relationship. They are easy to grow, are deer and rabbit proof, and spread easily. Ah, but there is the problem... they spread! Everywhere! You can pull them up, dig them up, mow them down and next year you will find them in the same area from rhizomes left from pulling and in new areas as they also spread from seed. The ones pictured were pulled up last summer and they are back as if they hadn't been touched. If you really, really want them, I suggest growing them in pots and cutting and destroying the flowers before they set seed. As they are an invasive plant, you may want to avoid them in areas where you want to keep native wild plants as these will choke out just about every thing else. It is banned from being sold in some states. It was brought here here as an ornamental plant in the 1850's, it is native to Europe, Northern Asia and Siberia. Before you decide to plant Bishop Weed please read the comments:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/546/#b Also read:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegopodium_podagraria
Aegopodium podagraria, commonly called ground elder, herb gerard, bishop's weed, goutweed, and snow-in-the-mountain, is a perennial plant in the carrot family (Apiaceae) that grows in shady places. The name "ground elder" comes from the superficial similarity of its leaves and flowers to those of elder (Sambucus), which is unrelated. It is the type species of the genus Aegopodium. This species is native to Eurasia, and has been introduced around the world as an ornamental plant, where it occasionally poses an ecological threat as an invasive exotic plant.
I do use the flowers (which are quite fragrant) and leafy stems in arrangements but you have to presoak them before using as the wilt rather quickly. As for it being edible, I wouldn't try it. It's medicinal properties need more research.
 |
Bishop Weed-Snow on the Mountain ~ Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'
|
