Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium podagraria): Controlling an Invasive Groundcover

Bishop's Weed (Aegopodium podagraria): Controlling an Invasive Groundcover

A gardener asked what will keep bishop's weed (ground cover) under control.

Expert Advice

Bishop's weed is Aegopodium podagraria (goutweed). The variegated form in deep shade is manageable (hard dry clay soil, mowing). The green form is a terrible pest in sun and loose sandy soil, more common north of NJ. Mowing helps; cut flowers before seed. For bad cases: hand-pull (wear gloves, causes rashes), dig out white roots, cover with heavy plastic plus mulch or board (kills other plants). Strong herbicides (Weed B Gone) may kill it; Roundup may not. Herbicides kill nearby plants, persist in soil. Simplest: give that area to ground cover and start over elsewhere; don't transplant from infested area.