Bishops Weed – Identification
Q: This is a bunch of “leaves of three”, but it doesn’t look like the normal color of poison ivy. Do you know what it is? I have a very large batch of it by the concrete wall.
A: The variegated leaves are those of bishop’s weed, Aegopodium podagraria ‘Variegatum’. It is an attractive plant but you should get rid of it ASAP. It is very invasive and will smother nearby plants. I had a patch that I noticed near my front door when I moved into this house twenty-five years ago and it took a year to get it all out. Spray now with Roundup and keep an eye out for new sprouts.