How do I stop it from spreading?

You must remove the entire root system, as even small fragments left in the soil will regrow.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, it is safer to grow it in a container to prevent it from escaping into your garden beds.

Plant guide

Goutweed.

Aegopodium podagraria

Pronounced ee-go-PO-dee-um po-da-GRA-ree-uh

Also known as Ashweed, Bishop's goutweed, Bishop's-weed, Bishops Goutweed, Bishopweed, English Masterwort, Goutweed, Ground-Elder

Aegopodium podagraria — Photo by Flavien Saboureau (CC BY) via gbif

Goutweed is a vigorous, low growing perennial that spreads rapidly through underground rhizomes. It is often used as a groundcover in difficult areas where other plants struggle to thrive. Be aware that it can become quite invasive in garden settings.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 30 to 45 cm tall
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 3 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

This plant is incredibly hardy and requires very little maintenance once established. Keep an eye on its spread, as it will quickly colonize surrounding areas if not contained. If you notice it encroaching on other plants, simply dig up the unwanted sections.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Feeding: A light application of balanced fertilizer in early spring is sufficient.
Pruning: Cut back foliage in late autumn or early spring to refresh the plant.
Repotting: Divide the rhizomes every few years to manage size and maintain vigor.
Soil: Moist, well-draining soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly acidic
Temperature: -30 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 80%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, indefinite with rhizome spread.
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Stunted growth
Soil drying out too quickly

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non-toxic, though it is not recommended for consumption due to potential misidentification risks.
Pets: Goutweed is generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Children: There is no specific danger to children, but the plant is invasive and should not be encouraged in play areas.
Contact allergens: Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from handling the foliage.
Airborne allergens: The pollen can cause mild allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
Edibility: While young leaves are sometimes eaten, they are easily confused with toxic lookalikes and can cause digestive upset if not properly identified.

How to identify it

Compound leaves with three leaflets
Leaflets have serrated margins
Small white flowers in umbels
Spreads via underground rhizomes
Variegated foliage with creamy white edges

Height: 0.3 to 1m
Spread: 0.6 to 3m
Leaves: green, white, deciduous
Flowers: white, 0.5 to 0.8cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

Check your goutweed from a photo

Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your plant and tells you what's wrong and what to try first.

Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: The foliage will die back completely in winter. No special protection is needed as the rhizomes are very hardy.
In containers: It grows very well in containers, which is the best way to enjoy it without the risk of it becoming invasive.

Division

1. Dig up a clump in spring or autumn.
2. Separate the rhizomes into smaller sections.
3. Replant immediately in moist soil.

Keep this plant isolated in a container or a restricted area to prevent it from taking over your entire landscape.

Grows well with

Hostas · They share similar shade requirements and can hold their own against aggressive spreaders.

Similar species

Cow Parsley · It has a similar umbel flower structure but lacks the aggressive rhizomatous spread.

Science

Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Aegopodium
Order: Apiales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe and temperate Asia.
Conservation: It is considered an invasive species in many parts of North America and should be managed carefully.

It thrives in damp, shaded woodland edges where it forms dense colonies that outcompete other ground flora.

Value to wildlife: nectar source
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: ground cover, shade garden filler

Through the year

JFMAMJJASOND

Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Soil reaction: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 6/9
Salinity: 1/9
Light: 3/9
Nutrients: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

How do I stop it from spreading?: You must remove the entire root system, as even small fragments left in the soil will regrow.
Can I grow it in a pot?: Yes, it is safer to grow it in a container to prevent it from escaping into your garden beds.

Where the name comes from

The name Aegopodium comes from Greek words meaning goat and foot, referring to the leaf shape, while podagraria refers to its historical use for gout.

Good to know

It was historically used to treat gout, which is reflected in its scientific name.
The variegated form is often sold as a garden ornamental despite its invasive nature.
It can grow in almost any soil type from heavy clay to sandy loam.

Also in

Keep your goutweed growing

This page is a general guide. Save your plant in Pocket Botanist and you get care reminders timed for this plant, plus a care history that shows what worked.

Get the app

This guide was generated with AI on September 25, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.