Marshelder

Biological Name:

Marshelder – Iva annua

Natural Habitat:

The natural habitat of Marshelder is likely grassy areas, such as fields and meadows, in temperate regions.

Description:

Marshelder is a type of flowering plant that is commonly found in fields and other grassy areas. It is a member of the Asteraceae family which also includes plants such as sunflowers and daisies. Marshelder is an annual or perennial plant that produces small white or yellow flowers and clusters of seeds. The plant is often used as a cover crop to improve soil health and suppress weeds. It is also known for its ability to tolerate a wide range of growing conditions including wet or dry soils. In some areas marshelder is considered a weed because of its ability to invade cultivated areas and cause allergies and other health problems.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is sumpweed used for?
A: An infusion or decoction of the plant has been drunk and used as a lotion in the treatment of coughs and influenza[257]. A poultice of the plant has been used in the treatment of boils[257].
Source

Q: What does sumpweed smell like?
A: The foliage of this plant has a camphor-like odor. The upper stems terminates in narrow racemes of flowerheads about 2–8″ long.”
Source

Q: Is sumpweed edible?
A: Iva annua, the annual marsh elder or sumpweed, is a North American herbaceous annual plant in the family Asteraceae that was historically cultivated by Native Americans for its edible seed.
Source

Q: What does stinkweed smell like?
A: Stinkweed (Thlaspi arvense), also known as field pennygrass, is a smelly lawn weed with an odor similar to rotten garlic with a hint of turnip. It can grow 2 to 3 feet tall (61-91 cm.) and take over your yard if you don’t start a management program early in the season.
Source

Q: How can you tell Jimsonweed?
A: Jimsonweed is a large, summer annual growing three to five feet high with white or purplish funnel-shaped flowers. The stems are smooth and are either green or purple. The leaves are alternate, large, and the margins resemble oak leaf margins (coarsely and unevenly toothed).
Source

Q: Where is marsh elder found?
A: Summary. Rough marshelder (Iva annua) is a coarse-textured plant that grows to a height of around 1-4 feet. This plant is abundantly found in lakes, river bottoms, valleys, lowlands, and damp areas. This weed pollen is predominantly found in the US and extends to Mexico.
Source

Q: Can ground elder be eaten?
A: A typical ground elder leaf. This good edible green was brought over by the Romans as a food staple, but soon spread countrywide.
Source

Q: Can you eat marsh elder?
A: Although its strong odor makes it somewhat unpalatable to us today, we know that it was used for food because marsh elder seeds have been found in paleofeces preserved in bluff shelters. Marsh elder is certainly nutritious, with high amounts of protein, fat, iron, and calcium.
Source

Q: What is ground elder good for?
A: Use in herbal medicine Traditionally used as a treatment for gout, ground Elder has also been used to treat rheumatism, arthritis, bladder, and digestive conditions. In addition, it has been used to make poultices, and to treat burns and stings. Always stay safe when foraging.
Source

Q: Does ground elder cure gout?
A: Modern herbals still recommend ground elder as a treatment for gout, sciatica, rheumatism, haemorrhoids, inflammation, and water retention.
Source

Q: Does ground elder spread by seed?
A: Ground elder is a pernicious, fast spreading, perennial weed, which can soon colonise and take over large areas of the garden. Although new plants can be produced from seed, it mainly spreads through its white/creamy-white, creeping, perennial “roots” – actually underground stems or rhizomes.
Source

Q: Can you be allergic to plantains?
A: Common Symptoms English plantain allergy symptoms can be similar to many other pollen allergies and may include: Sneezing. Nasal congestion. Runny nose.
Source

Q: What eats marsh elder?
A: It’s on the menu for the Eastern Cottontail, Meadow Vole, grasshoppers which eat the leaves, Dark-eyed Junco, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Bobwhite, Purple Finch, Mourning Dove, American Goldfinch, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker. Sheep and horses also like to eat the plant.
Source

Q: How do you stop ground elder from spreading?
A: The ground elder can now be evicted by digging, or by covering the ground with black polythene to starve the weed of light. It may take several seasons until the ground elder is completely destroyed.
Source

Q: Is ground elder hard to get rid of?
A: Ground elder can re-grow from any small segments of rhizome left in the ground, making it difficult to control. Weedkiller is the most effective solution for large infestations. However, with patience and persistence it can also be controlled without the use of chemicals.
Source

Q: Is ground elder good for wildlife?
A: Ground elder (Aegopodium podagraria) What’s more, they attracted all sorts of solitary bees, hoverflies and honeybees. I’ve noticed that there is always a buzz of life around them, and so I am beginning to think of the ground elder as a wildlife garden treasure, despite its general unpopularity.
Source

Q: Should I remove ground elder?
A: Regular cutting of the foliage, just below ground level, with a hoe will gradually weaken the plant, but this needs to be done every 7-10 days, as soon as regrowth appears. Alternatively, fork through the soil every 10 to 14 days, removing every piece of ground elder root that’s found.
Source

Q: Are elder trees good in the garden?
A: Elder shrubs and trees have a lot to offer with their foliage, flowers and fruits. Not only are they a great addition for us, but they have plenty for wildlife. Using these tips, you can grow your own elder in the garden.
Source

Q: Is elder bark poisonous?
A: Only the flowers(raw) and berries(cooked) are edible on this tree, and you shouldn’t the berries raw as the seeds contain cyanide inducing glycocides, the rest of the tree is poisonous and contains compounds that are metabolised into cyanide within the body.
Source

Q: How do I permanently get rid of ground elder?
A: The ground elder can now be evicted by digging, or by covering the ground with black polythene to starve the weed of light. It may take several seasons until the ground elder is completely destroyed.
Source

Q: Is elder plant invasive?
A: It is generally invasive in hedgerows, roadsides and field margins, and unmanaged grasslands. Since it is frequently found as an understorey shrub in its native range, it is a potential woodland invasive in non-native areas.
Source

About the author

Samuel is a gardening professional and enthusiast who has spent over 20 years advising homeowners and farm owners on weed identification, prevention and removal. He has an undergraduate degree in plant and soil science from Michigan State University.