Preferences:

A European perennial, that is an aggressive weedy groundcover.

Goutweed prefers partial sun or shade, all soil types but heavy clay will slow the rhizomes down a little. In full sun the plant will be shorter and uneven in height. As a result, in large areas the plant is rarely of a uniform height.

Cultural Practices:

Propagation - Clump division best in spring although anytime is fine. Have  found that it is best to pre-plant in pots and nurse them a little. You will get a higher success rate.

Culture - The plant has a vicious root system of bright white roots. It does better on cultivated soil and will be taller with manure application. It needs to be cut back in fall because pests over winter; however,  in spring you need only to rake the leaves. Stems are mucilaginous and stringy - difficult to cut back cleanly.

Landscape Value:

If you can, don't purchase this plant. Its rate of growth is tremendous and most people will pay you to remove some of it.

Don't plant it in areas where the plant will overrun other perennials. It must be boxed in by sidewalk or a deep 6"-8" landscape edging. It it gets into the lawn it will reluctantly die back with 2-4D application.

Combination:

Plant with other plants that can hold their own. Daylilies, Delphinium, and Daisies look good with goutweed.