Closely related to henna, the plant has a slightly bitter taste and no aroma. It is widely cultivated for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage. Galium odoratum. 3 years later, there is one tiny sprig left--not a single sign of any of the other plants. Often used as a ground cover, Sweet Woodruff herb plants have whorled leaves and small vanilla-scented white flowers in spring. Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum, has long been a woodland garden favorite for its elegant beauty. Sweet woodruff is a creeping groundcover plant and can be a rather enthusiastic spreader in the right garden location. The Look. Tiny white flowers late spring and summer. Germany goes green in the month of May. Culture and Climate. Sweet woodruff: Galium odoratum, like catnip, is an aromatic perennial for zones 4 to 8. These stems spread out horizontally over the ground and can root where they come in contact with the soil. Sweet woodruff is occasionally cultivated in the herb garden for its medicinal and other uses. pot size guide. Sweet woodruff grows about 6 to 10 inches high and is a trailing-rooting ground cover. Although sweet woodruff will spread indefinitely under the right conditions, it is generally not considered invasive in the Inland Northwest. If so, the aggressiveness would not bother me nearly as much. Woodruff, Sweet. When I was in Germany last year, I discovered that it’s used to flavour all sorts of things, from candy to cordial. Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) is an herb that spreads via runners and seed, forming a dense green carpet. Well, this year, my seemingly innocuous little plant became a garden bully. Sweet Woodruff. Sweet woodruff can become invasive if given the right conditions. Sweet woodruff is an herb. Here it is in bloom. Sweet woodruff is quick to establish and can be considered invasive as it spreads easily if left unrestrained. Sweet Woodruff; Phonetic Spelling GAL-ee-um oh-dor-AY-tum Description. They tolerate heavy shade and even being planted near black walnuts. They like moist but well draining soil that is rich in organic material from things like decomposing leaves and branches, but will also grow in dry soils. When dried, the leaves smell pleasantly of new-mown hay, honey, and vanilla. However, this is rarely to the detriment of other plants since these are normally able to grow through it[200]. Clusters of tiny white flowers make a pretty display in spring. It does make an excellent ground cover plant due to its low-growing nature and spreading habit. Low maintenance, herbaceous perennial groundcover blooms in the spring. Fruits. I planted it on the side of our front porch, below the faucet. Cut it back when it exceeds its bounds. Be careful to keep it out of direct sunlight, which can damage sweet woodruff’s pinwheel leaves, and don’t confuse it with its weedy, invasive cousin, the eponymously named “sticky weed” (G. aparine). Sweet woodruff, hardy in zones 4 through 8, is easily grown in moist, well-drained soil. Growth. Old fashioned favorite that spreads quickly with rich soil and ample moisture. I wish my sweet woodruff was invasive. Feverfew is a treasured plant for me and I would not call it invasive. Ajuga spreads very slowly where I have it under some shrubs. Sweet Woodruff is very tolerant of shade and, once established, copes well with fairly shallow tree roots. Leaves and stems have a vanilla-like odor when dried. I ended up removing sweet woodruff -- both because it was struggling and yet also (paradoxically) because it was spreading too much for my tastes. I planted sweet woodruff under shrubs last year and am hoping it will spread. We have it throughout our white shade garden and it's delicate white flowers in early spring form a dense white carpet in keeping with the theme of the garden. The plant may die back and go dormant in the summer if located in a spot that is too hot and dry. I planted 18 plants in a bed with 3 PJM rhododendrons. Its vernacular names include woodruff, sweet woodruff, and wild baby's breath; master of the woods would be a literal translation of the German Waldmeister. In a moist site this spreads steadily to form a thick carpet. Plants form a spreading clump of small green leaves, whorled like spokes of a bicycle around the stem. Yes, the flowers are beautiful, but if you don't have the space and don't want it to take over, then I'd advise you not to plant it. New shoots will be formed at the point where rooting occurs. They also use it for heart problems, “blood purification,” “weak veins,” and other circulation problems. If you do grow this plant in the U.S., please check to make sure it's not invasive in your region, as might be the case particularly in the Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest and parts of New York State. It is sometimes confused with Galium triflorum and Galium verum. Last updated on Dec 12, 2019. Often used as a ground cover, Sweet Woodruff herb plants have whorled leaves and small vanilla-scented white flowers in spring. 1 star 1 star 1 star 1 star 1 star (0 reviews) Write review. It is not highly invasive, otherwise, just a healthy grower, which is what is wanted in a groundcover. It’s very pretty, right? Sweet woodruff, Galium odoratum, makes a prolific and lovely ground cover for the shade or semi-shade garden. Sweet Woodruff has fine textured stems and leaves which are situated in whorls resembling a wheel; in the springtime each stem is topped by a tiny bouquet of fresh white star shaped blooms. It is one of my favorite plants for bouquets. Sweet Woodruff leaves are in whorls. Spreading by both underground roots and by self-seeding, it quickly forms a thick mat. SKU. The dried foliage has the sweet scent of newly mown hay[245]. Sweet woodruff can cause headaches, dizziness, blackouts, and possibly liver damage when used long-term or in large amounts. It was invasive for me and took me years to get rid of every part of it in my garden. The Sweet Woodruff Plant is an herb that is used in Germany in baking, cooking, and in beverages. A Sweet Woodruff plant. 2383. Sweet woodruff spreads by runners. It grows in USDA Zones 4-8. I'm always a bit wary of exotic (non-native) plants that spread aggressively. This herb can be considered invasive; therefore herbalists should take care to keep an eye on the boundaries designated for its cultivation. [ 2 replies | ] Posted by SongofJoy (Clarksville, TN - Zone 6b) on Jan 14, 2012 11:24 AM. Trailing-rooting ground covers have trailing stems that spread out from a central root system. Clinical Overview Use. Small, fragrant, 4-petaled, white flowers appear in loose cymes in spring. Sweet Woodruff (Asperula Odorata or Galium Odoratum) - Also known as Our Lady's Lace, this low-growing perennial is versatile and grows well from Sweet Woodruff seeds. The soil had been amended a full season prior to planting. Like most herbs, it requires good drainage and slightly acidic soil. I let it sit in jojoba oil for about a week and now the oil is delicately flavored with that dry hay/tobacco/vanilla scent that I associate with lying in the grass at midsummer. 9cm pot £6.99. The bed is nearly full shade and circumscrbed by our deck and concrete walks so spreading was not a concern. Sweet woodruff is a fragrant, delicate groundcover for shady areas, and it requires very little maintenance. The sweet woodruff plant is called Waldmeister or Maikraut in Germany. Sweet Woodruff: USDA Zone: 3-9: Plant number: 1.223.050. When well-nourished, sweet woodruff can grow to around eight inches (20 centimeters) in height, and it can sprawl out considerably in the garden. In contrast, when wilted or crushed, woodruff releases a sweet, pleasant odor reminiscent of fresh hay. Still, it should only be planted in areas where it can be allowed to roam freely. Common Name(s): Master of the wood, Sweet woodruff, Waldmeister, Woodruff, Woodward Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Sweet Woodruff, Galium odoratum Pros: - Evergreen (at least in zone 6/7) - Beautiful light-green foliage with an interesting whorled shape. This has quickly become one of the most popular groundcovers for shady areas. Here are tips on how to grow this plant in your back yard and how to use it seasonally. sweet woodruff. Sweet Woodruff is often used a fill-in gorund cover in gardens, from which it occasionally escapes. It happened slowly. It does best in areas that get partial to full shade and have moderately moist soil. Be the first to review this product. Sweet woodruff is a sprawling groundcover, developing long stems and whorls of narrow leaves which totally surround the stem. The plant spreads rapidly but is not invasive. Scientific Name(s): Galium odoratum (L.) Scop. Sweet woodruff forms a dense groundcover, growing on a creeping rhizome. Herbaceous perennial. Plants typically grow 8-12" tall and feature fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along square stems. Sweet woodruff is an herb. Sweet woodruff, with its whorls of emerald green leaves and white starry flowers, is a welcome sight in late spring, and the foliage is attractive all season long. ADD add to wishlist. Galium odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff, is a mat-forming perennial that is most often grown as a ground cover in shady areas. The squarish stems grow about 40cm (6-12”) tall. Galium odoratum, the sweetscented bedstraw, is a flowering perennial plant in the family Rubiaceae, native to much of Europe from Spain and Ireland to Russia, as well as Western Siberia, Turkey, Iran, the Caucasus, China and Japan. Sweet woodruff is also a very popular plant in Europe. Not enough is known about the safety of putting sweet woodruff on the skin. The bright green, narrow, rough textured leaves are arranged in whorls around the stems. It responds well to control measures, unlike some popular groundcover options. The foliage dies back to the ground in most winters in the Midwest and reappears early in spring. Sweet Woodruff (Asperula Odorata or Galium Odoratum) - Also known as Our Lady's Lace, this low-growing perennial is versatile and grows well from Sweet Woodruff seeds. It does reseed, but not aggressively. Wildflowers Bedstraws: Range map for Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State. During my experiments with capturing the scent of plants, I was most successful with sweet woodruff. It is also sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in the United States and Canada. Can be somewhat aggressive under optimal growing conditions. It’s not overly aggressive, but will spread nicely within a few years. Sweet woodruff herb should be planted in a shady area. In more open conditions it can be a bit invasive but it is easily pulled up and I’ve never found it to be a problem, though there are some negative comments about the … It is hardy in zones 4-9. Sweet woodruff is invasive in some parts of the United States. in stock (shipped within 10 working days) Quantity 1 Plus Minus. Useful in herb gardens, rock gardens, naturalized areas, shady borders or as a ground cover or edging plant. Likewise, people ask, what is sweet woodruff used for? A very ornamental plant[1] but it spreads rapidly[28] and can be invasive[200]. Attractive low spreading groundcover or pathway edging for shady gardens and woodland settings. However, I *believe* sweet woodruff is native to Germany. While it is assertive, it rarely becomes truly invasive as its quite easy to pull out or edge with a shovel. The parts that grow above the ground are used to make medicine, though medicinal use has tapered off in many countries around the world.. People take sweet woodruff for preventing and treating lung, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and urinary disorders. It owes its sweet smell to the odiferous agent coumarin, and is sometimes used as a flavoring agent due to its chemical content.   This perennial ground cover is a shade-lover. Sweet woodruff makes a big statement in the shade garden. Lance-shaped leaves are shiny green and grow in whorls around stems that grow up to 12" tall. 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