Goutweed
Aegopodium podagraria
Family: Apiaceae
Other Scientific Names:
Aegopodium angelicifolium, Aegopodium simplex, Aegopodium ternatum, Aegopodium tribracteolatum, Apium biternatum, Apium podagraria, Carum podagraria
Other Common Names: ground elder, herb gerard, bishop's weed, gout wort, snow-in-the-mountain, English masterwort, wild masterwort
Weed class: monitor list
Year Listed: 2025
Native to: Europe and Asia
Is this Weed Toxic?:
Not known to be
Why Is It a Noxious Weed?
This plant is on the monitor list - it is not a listed noxious weed in Washington. Please contact its sponsor Emily Stevenson to report locations or for more information.
How would I identify it?
General Description
This herbaceous perennial can grow to about 3.5 feet tall.
Flower Description
The flowers grow in umbrella-shaped bunches at the ends of branched stalks. Each flower is small, white, and 5-petaled.
Leaf description
The green leaves are divided into usually 3 or 5 leaflets. These leaflets can be palmate or are tear-drop shaped, and have serrated edges. Some cultivars may be variegated, with white or light green coloration.
Stem description
Round, green stems. The stems highly branch up near the umbrellas of flowers, or lightly branch towards the leaves below the flowers, or when the plant is not flowering.
Where does it grow?
It is a popular garden and ornamental plant, which may escape into nearby habitats from yards and horticultural plantings.
How Does it Reproduce?
Seed only.
Additional Photos
