Bishop's weed / goutweed
Aegopodium podagraria
Bishop's weed / goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) is a groundcover suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 8–14 in tall and 12–60 in wide, needs medium water, and prefers partial shade to dappled sun to deep shade. DO NOT PLANT. Bishop's weed is a horticultural mistake, once in your beds, you'll never get it out.
medium water8–14 in tall and 12–60 in wideInvasive in Colorado
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At a glance
- Botanical name
- Aegopodium podagraria
- Variety / cultivar
- 'Variegata'
- Type
- Groundcover
- Mature size
- 8–14 in tall and 12–60 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~42–60 in apart
- Growth habit
- Spreading
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in partial shade; tolerates dappled sun, deep shade.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.0
Things to know before you plant
- Invasive, do not plantExtremely aggressive rhizome spreader, once established, virtually impossible to remove. Smothers garden beds and escapes into adjacent landscapes. Listed as invasive in many states. Even the variegated form reverts and spreads.
- Spreads aggressivelyBishop's weed, extremely aggressive rhizomes, very hard to eradicate
Wildlife & ecology
- Deer
- Not deer-resistant
Using Bishop's weed / goutweed as a groundcover
Bishop's weed / goutweed spreads steadily.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Bishop's weed / goutweed good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Bishop's weed / goutweed is a well-suited groundcover for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting Bishop's weed / goutweed?
- The main things to know: Extremely aggressive rhizome spreader, once established, virtually impossible to remove. Smothers garden beds and escapes into adjacent landscapes. Listed as invasive in many states. Even the variegated form reverts and spreads. Bishop's weed, extremely aggressive rhizomes, very hard to eradicate
- How big does Bishop's weed / goutweed get?
- It matures to about 8–14 in tall and 12–60 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Bishop's weed / goutweed?
- Space Bishop's weed / goutweed about 42 in apart for a faster, fuller cover, or up to 60 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Bishop's weed / goutweed hardy on the Front Range?
- Bishop's weed / goutweed is hardy in USDA 3–9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Bishop's weed / goutweed need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- Is Bishop's weed / goutweed native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Bishop's weed / goutweed deer-resistant?
- No. Bishop's weed / goutweed is not considered deer-resistant and may need protection where deer browse.
- Can you walk on Bishop's weed / goutweed?
- Bishop's weed / goutweed isn't meant for foot traffic, site it where you won't need to walk across it.
- Will Bishop's weed / goutweed spread or stay put?
- Bishop's weed / goutweed is spreading. Bishop's weed, extremely aggressive rhizomes, very hard to eradicate Give it room to fill in and edit the edges to keep it where you want it.
- Does Bishop's weed / goutweed stay green in winter?
- Bishop's weed / goutweed keeps partial cover through Front Range winters.
