Woodruff

Description

Galium odoratum – sweet woodruff

Botanical name: Galium odoratum
Common names: Sweet woodruff, woodruff
Family: Rubiaceae
Plant type: Herbaceous perennial
Habit: Low, spreading, mat-forming
Pot size: 1 litre pot
Eventual size: Approx. 15–25cm tall × spreading
Foliage: Whorls of narrow, fresh green leaves ringing the stems; hay-scented when dried
Flowers: Clusters of small, starry white flowers in late spring (April–June)
Scent: Foliage develops a sweet, hay-like scent when dried
Aspect / light: Partial to full shade
Soil: Moist but well-drained, humus-rich; any pH
Hardiness: RHS H7 (very hardy, below −20°C); USDA zones 4–8
Exposure: Sheltered
Native range: Native to Europe including the UK
Toxicity / pet & child safety: Generally considered non-toxic in ordinary garden situations

Galium odoratum, sweet woodruff, is a pretty native forming spreading carpets of fresh green leafy whorls topped by starry white flowers in late spring. Superb, fragrant groundcover for shade and woodland.

GardenAdvice notes

A charming native perennial, sweet woodruff forms low, spreading carpets of delicate leafy whorls, topped in late spring by a froth of small, starry white flowers. It spreads gently to make excellent groundcover in shade, thriving in the moist, humus-rich conditions of a woodland garden, and its foliage develops a lovely sweet, hay-like scent as it dries.

Growing & planting

Plant in spring or autumn in moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil in partial to full shade — it is ideal for the shade beneath trees and shrubs, where it spreads to form groundcover. Work in leaf mould, and space about 25–30cm apart. Keep it moist for the best growth.

Care & maintenance

Low-maintenance. Keep the soil from drying out. It spreads by runners to form a carpet; lift and reduce it if it exceeds its space. An annual leaf-mould mulch keeps it happy. Water while establishing.

Propagation

• Division: Lift and divide clumps in spring or autumn — the easiest method.
• Seed: Can be raised from fresh seed; it also self-seeds gently.

Pests & diseases

Generally trouble-free and tough, thriving in shade with few pests or diseases. It can spread enthusiastically, which is usually welcome as groundcover.

Uses in the garden

Superb as fragrant, weed-suppressing groundcover in shady and woodland borders, under trees and shrubs, and on shady banks, where its fresh foliage and white spring flowers brighten the gloom.

Wildlife value

The late-spring flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinators, and the dense carpet offers ground-level cover for insects and small creatures.

Toxicity & safety

Sweet woodruff is generally regarded as non-toxic in ordinary garden situations, and is grown as an ornamental and aromatic groundcover.

GardenAdvice tip

Sweet woodruff is one of the loveliest carpeting plants for dry-ish shade under trees, spreading into a fresh green mat topped with starry white flowers in spring. The famous sweet, hay-like scent only develops as the foliage dries, so it’s a lovely thing to cut and dry. Give it moist, leafy soil in shade and it will quietly get on with covering the ground.

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