RHS Other common names
ale gill, alehoof, blue runner, candlesticks, cat's foot, cat's paws, creeping Charlie, creeping Jenny, crow victuals, crow's guts, devil's candlestick, eidral, field balm, field balsam, Gill, Gill-go-by-the-street, Gill-over-the-ground, Gill-run-over, hay maids, hayfoot, hayhoof, hedge maids, hen and chickens, hove, Jill-on-the-ground, purple chickweed, Robin-run-away, Robin-run-in-the-hedge, runaway Robin, tunhoof, turnhoof, wandering Jenny, wild snakeroot
A vigorous spreading, mat-forming evergreen perennial to no more than 50cm in height, with dark green, scalloped foliage and creeping by prostrate stolons. The flowers are commonly violet-blue, but pink and white forms also occur, appearing in spring. Provides a valuable nectar source for bees and other pollinating insects but can become a nuisance if it is left to spread unchecked
Position
Soil Types
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Spread
1.5-2.5 metres