Bishop's weed / goutweed
Aegopodium podagraria
Bishop's weed / goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) is a groundcover that grows well here and should not be planted. It matures to about 8 to 14 in tall and 12 to 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 to 14 in tall and 12 to 60 in wideLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10Invasive in Colorado
Photos
- Photo 1: no rights reserved
- Photo 2: (c) ape, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman
- Photo 4: (c) ape, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3 to 9
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in partial shade; tolerates dappled sun, deep shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 8 to 14 in tall and 12 to 60 in wide
- Growth habit
- Spreading
- Planting spacing
- ~42 to 60 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Winter cover
- Partial winter cover
What it will do to your yard
- Foot traffic
- No foot traffic
Who else benefits
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
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
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?
- No. Bishop's weed / goutweed is listed as invasive in Colorado and should not be planted. 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.
- 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 to 14 in tall and 12 to 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 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 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 a good firewise plant near the house?
- Bishop's weed / goutweed is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- 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.
