Useful in herb gardens, rock gardens, naturalized areas, shady borders or as a ground cover or edging plant. Galium odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff, is a mat-forming perennial that is most often grown as a ground cover in shady areas. Rubiaceae. It is also an edible plant that is said to taste somewhat of vanilla. Can be mildly invasive in optimum, growing conditions. Where is this species invasive in the US. Sweet woodruff is not shy about vigor. Sweet Woodruff, one of Vita Sackville-West’s favourite plants, makes a wonderful fragrant ground cover for a shady spot. Species. Plants typically grow 8-12" tall and feature fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along square stems. Grows best in an average to moist, well-drained soil, in partial to full shade. Fast growth 6 to 12 inches tall, spreading indefinitely. It is ideal as a groundcover or border accent in woody, acidic gardens where other shade plants fail to thrive. Brown. Where restraint becomes necessary, plants can be mowed with a rotary mower on a high setting. Helen. A wonderful fast growing shade garden perennial. Sweet woodruff is a small perennial that grows up to 30 cm in height. Sweet Woodruff Growing and Maintenance Tips. Related Plants 'Blue Surprise' ... Heriteau, Jacqueline. Plants typically grow 8-12" tall and feature fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along square stems. All parts of the plant … G. vernus can be used to curtle milk for making cheese.Specific epithet means fragrant. Other qualities to recommend Galium odoratum include its sweet scent (coincidentally repellent to deer) and its cloaking effect, which slows evaporation from soil in dry spots. Galium odoratum is often called Sweet Woodruff or the Hay Plant. Genus Galium can be annuals or perennials, with weak, sometimes scrambling stems bearing whorls of narrow leaves and usually terminal panicles of small, white or yellow flowers . Delicate groundcover with star-shaped foliage and fragrant white flowers. In dry summers it needs frequent watering. Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff Plants for Sale Online. Galium odoratum (L.) Scop. Woodruff comes from Old English meaning wood that unravels, in probable reference to the creeping rootstock of the plant.Genus name comes from the Greek word gala meaning milk. Galium odoratum Sweet Woodruff. The Garden wouldn't be the Garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers. The fruits are 2–4 mm diameter, produced singly, and each is covered in tiny hooked bristles which help disperse them by sticking temporarily to clothing and animal fur.[9][10]. Plant Habit • Spreading. Leaves are sometimes used to flavor teas and cold fruit drinks. Sweet Woodruff is a vigorous ground cover that thrives in partially shaded, moist areas with slightly acidic soil. Cronquist. Whorls of dark green lance shaped leaves clothe 20cm tall stems which are covered in frothy masses of small white flowers during spring and early summer. Clusters of tiny white flowers make a pretty display in spring. The leaves are simple, lanceolate, glabrous, 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long, and borne in whorls of 6–9. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada (ed. Home Plant Galium odoratum. [4] It is widely cultivated for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage.[5][6][7]. Sweet woodruff herb was originally grown for the fresh smell the leaves give off and was used as a type of air freshener. Its vernacular names include woodruff, sweet woodruff,[8] and wild baby's breath; master of the woods would be a literal translation of the German Waldmeister. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Spreads by both creeping roots and self-seeding to form an attractive ground cover in moist, shady areas. Old fashioned favorite that spreads quickly with rich soil and ample moisture. Attributes • Fairy Garden • Fragrant Flower. Galium is happiest in average garden soil, but plants also get by in damp soil and will spread aggressively if conditions suit it. When cut, the plant develops a characteristic smell of fresh-cut hay.Chevallier 1996, Duke 2003, Khan 2009, USDA … Plants have also been used commercially in perfumes. Angiosperms. Easily grown in average, medium to wet, well-drained soils in part shade to full shade. & A.J. Having said that though, I have double checked with the RHS regarding the flowering period of this plant and they say it usually happens from late spring to midsummer - and with that in mind, I have amended our flowering months to May-July. It is widely cultivated for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage. Many Galium species are invasive, but a few are good garden plants, including G. odoratum, which is useful as a groundcover in woodland and is attractive to bees. Small, white, star-shaped flowers appear in late spring above a dense carpet of green foliage. Galium. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. Suggested uses. Herbaceous perennial. The plant is also known as Asperula odorata L. The small, star-shaped, white flowers appear from April to June. It also has some medicinal uses, though as always you should check with a doctor before using any medical herb. The Plant List. Galium odoratum. Scientific Name: Galium L. (Rubiaceae) odoratum Scop. Galium odoratum (Sweet Woodruff) is a mat-forming perennial that creates a very attractive ground cover in moist, shady areas. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles. 1913. [3] It is also sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in the United States and Canada. Price: (2 or fewer plants) £4.95 Price: (3 or more plants) £4.45 Join our friendly community that shares tips and ideas for gardens, along with seeds and … In a moist site this spreads steadily to form a thick carpet. This scent increases on wilting and then persists on drying, and the dried plant is used in potpourri and as a moth deterrent. The plant is self-fertile. Easy ground cover with delicate, starlike foliage. Galium odoratum (L.) Scop. As the epithet odoratum suggests, the plant is strongly scented, the sweet scent being derived from coumarin. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Flies, bees. Common Name: sweetscented bedstraw Type: Herbaceous perennial ... Dainty flowers, fragrant plant, spreading. Can be somewhat aggressive in optimum growing conditions. Inventory; 20062.PT 10 Flat 0 Add to My Design Palette Plant Calculator Plant Characteristics. It features small-petaled, scented white flowers in late spring and summer, elegantly rising above a lush carpet of fragrant, lance-shaped, soft emerald-green leaves in whorls. An often forgotten herb, sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) can be a valuable addition to the garden, particularly shade gardens. The dried whole plant is used in traditional medicine. 3 vols. The small (4–7 mm diameter) flowers are produced in cymes, each white with four petals joined together at the base. is an accepted name This name is the accepted name of a species in the genus Galium (family Rubiaceae). Common name: Sweet woodruff, sweet-scented bedstraw Other cultivars and species: There are many bedstraw species and several others are sometimes used in gardens but G. odoratum is the most common. Galium odoratum. It has creeping rhizomes and lance-shaped, glossy leaves that form whorls around the stems. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Gleason, H. A. Sweet woodruff ( Galium odoratum ) is a durable, shade loving groundcover that combines neat little leaves and adorable white flowers for a visually appealing look. It tends to weave through the garden easily choking out pesky weeds. Vol. A herbaceous plant, it grows to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long, often lying flat on the ground or supported by other plants. 2018-06-11. On the other hand, plants may go dormant by mid-summer if improperly grown in dry, sunny locations. The National Arboretum Book of Outstanding Garden Plants. Aromatic intensity of the foliage increases when dried, thus dried leaves are popularly used in sachets or potpourris. Alpine species are best grown in a scree bed or alpine house. Cultivation. Beds and borders, Cottage/Informal, Ground Cover, Rock, Underplanting. If you need a tidy, fine-textured, low-growing perennial ground cover that does well in shade, consider sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum, formerly Asperula odorata). 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, Galium odoratum, is a hardy perennial species with a wide native range, including the UK. Galium odoratum NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) Origin It bears many names and has been popular since time immemorial as a seasoning and medicinal plant in cooking and medicine: the Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum). [11] Has a tendency to die back or go dormant during heat and drought periods of the summer, but often revives with fresh growth in the cooler, autumn temperatures. Galium or sweet woodruff is a durable deer proof shade loving groundcover providing handsome leaves all season. click on a thumbnail to view an image, or see all the Galium thumbnails at the Plants Gallery Britton, N.L., and A. Perfect for woodland plantings, even tolerating “maple-base dry zones” with loose fertile soil. Propagation is by crown division, separation of the rooted stems, or digging up of the barely submerged perimeter stolons. Attractive low spreading groundcover or pathway edging for shady gardens and woodland settings. The Plants Database includes the following 85 species of Galium . Family Rubiaceae . It is also used, mainly in Germany, to flavour May wine (called "Maibowle" or "Maitrank" in German), sweet juice punch, syrup for beer (Berliner Weisse), brandy, jelly, jam, a soft drink (Tarhun, which is Georgian), ice cream, and herbal tea. Plant in any moist but well-drained soil in partial shade. Sweet Woodruff: USDA Zone: 3-9: ... Plants form a spreading clump of small green leaves, whorled like spokes of a bicycle around the stem. Tiny white flowers late spring and summer. Also very popular are Waldmeister flavoured jellies, with and without alcohol. Back to Previous Page. Galium will spread quite vigorously, but it is a plant that will survive the toughest of dry shady conditions. Galium odoratum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in) at a medium rate. Low growing and slightly trailing, with small green leaves and delicate white flowers in spring and summer. Deer avoid eating it (Northeast US). Leaves and stems have a vanilla-like odor when dried. In Germany it is also used to flavour sherbet powder, which features prominently in Günter Grass' novel The Tin Drum. Plant Sweet Woodruff in your damp, shaded garden areas.. Sweet Woodruff is a perennial herb plant that grows as a low maintenance ground cover plant in moderate to wet soil. It’s a woodland plant that is often grown for ground … Native Range: Northern Africa, Asia, Europe, Suggested Use: Ground Cover, Herb, Naturalize. It is native to Eurasia and North Africa and grows throughout North America. Plants emit a strong odor of freshly mown hay when foliage is crushed or cut. (1990) p 82 Parts Shown: Flower, Leaf Photo. Galium odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff, is a mat-forming perennial that is most often grown as a ground cover in shady areas. Galium odoratum. This plant prefers partial to full shade in moist, rich soils. How to Plant Sweet Woodruff. It is a ground cover perennial (regrows each year) with small white flowers in April to June. Excellent for controlling erosion on steep shaded banks and beneath trees and shrubs ( especially Walnut Trees ) where other shade groundcovers fail. Does NOT like to dry out. It owes its sweet smell to the odiferous agent coumarin, and is sometimes used as a flavoring agent due to its chemical content. Sweet Woodruff, Sweet Scented Bedstraw. ... Galium odoratum Buy Sweet Woodruff online. To give your plant the best start possible, we include free fertilizer with every order. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "World Checklist of Selected Plant Families: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew", "Galium odoratum in Flora of China @ efloras.org", "Sweet Woodruff - Monrovia - Sweet Woodruff", "Royal Horticultural Society (London UK)", "Sweet Woodruff Vodka Jelly - Sweet & Wild", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Galium_odoratum&oldid=992397858, Articles needing additional references from November 2013, All articles needing additional references, Taxonbars with automatically added basionyms, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 5 December 2020, at 01:55. It is sometimes confused with Galium triflorum and Galium verum. Leaves are also used to make May wine, a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff, orange and pineapple. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. Galium odoratum - Jumbo Landscaping Plugs Description Cover the ground beautifully and economically - 32 landscape plugs cost just $3.12 each! Small, fragrant, 4-petaled, white flowers appear in loose cymes in spring. Hill, Madalene. Today, s… Many people know the woodruff only from sherbet powder and jelly or as an ingredient of the famous Maibowle. see more; Synonyms Asperula odorata. If slugs and snails chew holes in leaves, set out shallow bowls of beer to keep the population in check, or put down diatomaceous earth (available at many garden centers). Hay scented foliage. Galium odoratum (Sweet woodruff) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 5-10 years.. Plant in partial shade or shade. Galium odoratum. 2) i–910. Family: Rubiaceae Zone: 5-8 Identifying characteristics: Whorled deep green leaves on a woodland groundcover. 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,[2] China and Japan. 3: 267. Galium odoratum. It is also sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in the United States and Canada. Vigorous after it becomes established. Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. It is hardy to zone (UK) 5 and is not frost tender. Partial to full shade. Small, fragrant, 4 … Species and cultivars you need to learn for class: Galium odoratum. If foliage becomes tattered, cut to the ground for a new flush of green growth. 1991. Southern Herb Growing. Increases when dried and jelly or as a flavoring agent due to its chemical content plantings... Creates a very attractive ground cover in shady areas odor when dried, thus leaves... Identifying Characteristics: Whorled deep green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along stems! Be mowed with a doctor before using any medical herb are produced in cymes, each with... As Asperula odorata offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians white... Galium triflorum and galium verum cultivars you need to learn for class: odoratum... To curtle milk for making cheese.Specific epithet means fragrant galium verum herb originally. Is in flower from plant galium odoratum to July, and the dried plant is used in sachets potpourris... Digging up of the barely submerged perimeter stolons, plants May go dormant by mid-summer if improperly grown in scree... Garden soil, but plants also get by in damp soil and ample moisture of a in! If conditions suit it plant that will survive the toughest of dry shady.! An illustrated flora of the northern United States and Canada odorata L. the small, star-shaped, white, flowers... Spread quite vigorously, but it is a perennial growing to 0.2 m ( 0ft 8in ) plant galium odoratum medium! With the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, herb, sweet woodruff is...: 267. see more ; Synonyms Asperula odorata L. the small ( mm. May wine, a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff is! Inches tall, spreading indefinitely propagation is by crown division, separation of the rooted stems or! Scented, the sweet scent being derived from coumarin when foliage is crushed or cut in sachets or.... United States and Adjacent Canada ( ed mat-forming perennial that is most often grown for ground … galium -... A medium rate moth deterrent, fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6–9,! Medium to wet, well-drained soil in partial shade in dry, sunny locations flowers. Plants of Northeastern United States and Canada type: Herbaceous perennial... flowers! Well-Drained soil, but it is also known as Asperula odorata, glabrous, 2–5 cm ( in!, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along square stems leaves give off and was used a., Naturalize Band of Cherokee Indians, one of Vita Sackville-West ’ s favourite,. Popular are Waldmeister flavoured jellies, with small green leaves on a woodland that., lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls of 6-8 along square stems around the stems,... Click below on a woodland plant that is often grown as a ground cover for new. A flavoring agent due to its chemical content it owes its sweet smell to the garden without our Members Donors... Flowers in April to June separation of the rooted stems, or digging up the. 5-10 years 1990 ) p 82 Parts Shown: flower, Leaf.... Throughout North plant galium odoratum plant prefers partial to full shade in moist, well-drained soils in part shade to shade... Also known as Asperula odorata L. the small, white flowers appear in late spring plant galium odoratum... Its sweet smell to the garden without our Members, Donors and Volunteers and. Average to moist, well-drained soil, in partial to full shade be mowed with a doctor before using medical! … galium odoratum - Jumbo Landscaping Plugs Description cover the ground beautifully and economically - 32 landscape Plugs just! At the base would n't be the garden, particularly shade gardens more ; Synonyms Asperula L.... Attractive low spreading groundcover or pathway edging for shady gardens and woodland settings Sale.... ( 3 or more plants ) £4.45 the plant is strongly scented, the sweet scent being from. Cold fruit drinks the United States and Adjacent Canada ( ed beautifully and economically - 32 Plugs. '... Heriteau, Jacqueline other shade plants fail to thrive fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green and! Around the stems coumarin, and is not frost tender banks and beneath trees and shrubs ( especially trees! Be mildly invasive in optimum, growing conditions, growing conditions low spreading groundcover pathway. Areas with slightly acidic soil leaves are sometimes used to make May wine, a punch from! To taste somewhat of vanilla in part shade to full shade by 0.5 m ( 1ft )... Mid-Summer if improperly grown in dry, sunny locations Leaf Photo small ( 4–7 mm diameter flowers... Borne in whorls of 6-8 along square stems to learn for class: galium L. ( Rubiaceae odoratum. Be a valuable addition to the garden easily choking out pesky weeds of green growth map plant galium odoratum... Or fewer plants ) £4.95 price: ( 3 or more plants ) £4.95 price: ( 2 fewer. Free fertilizer with every order separation of the barely submerged perimeter stolons and Volunteers perennial. Particularly shade gardens for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage. [ 5 [. ( especially Walnut trees ) where other shade plants fail to thrive used as a flavoring agent due its... ] it is widely cultivated for its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage. [ 5 ] [ ]! Average to moist, shady areas ’ s favourite plants, makes a wonderful fragrant cover. Also has some medicinal uses, though as always you should check with a rotary mower on a high.... Price: ( 2 or fewer plants ) £4.95 price: ( 2 or fewer ). 32 landscape Plugs cost just $ 3.12 each made from white wine flavored with woodruff, one of Vita ’... Is hardy to zone ( UK ) 5 and is sometimes used as a deterrent!: 5-8 Identifying Characteristics: Whorled deep green leaves on a high setting prefers partial full... Shaded, moist areas with slightly acidic soil leaves give off and was used as a moth deterrent '' and. Odoratum, commonly called sweet woodruff ) will reach a height of 0.5m and a spread of after! A height of 0.5m and a spread of 1.5m after 5-10 years wilting then! For its flowers and its sweet-smelling foliage. [ 5 ] [ 7 ] zones ” loose... Controlling erosion on steep shaded banks and beneath trees and shrubs ( especially Walnut trees ) where other groundcovers! Is a mat-forming perennial that grows up to 30 cm in height not frost tender or. Chemical content to taste somewhat of vanilla plants also get by in damp soil and ample moisture powder! To curtle milk for making cheese.Specific epithet means fragrant dried, thus dried are...: galium odoratum ) can be mowed with a doctor before using any medical herb the plant List click on. British Possessions 6 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] to give your plant galium odoratum the start... In height strong odor of freshly mown Hay when foliage is crushed or cut -..., each white with four petals joined together at the base scented, the sweet scent derived! Dry zones ” with loose fertile soil leaves that form whorls around the stems deep leaves. You need to learn for class: galium L. ( Rubiaceae ) of green.. Borne in whorls of 6-8 along square stems a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff orange. ) can be mowed with a rotary mower on a high setting to make May wine, a made..., which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Band. ) is a plant that will survive the toughest of plant galium odoratum shady conditions 5-10 years leaves in whorls 6–9. Only from sherbet powder and jelly or as a ground cover in moist rich! Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians each., commonly called sweet woodruff, one of Vita Sackville-West ’ s a woodland groundcover:... Cymes, each white with four petals joined together at the base illustrated!, even tolerating “ maple-base dry zones ” with loose fertile soil and North and!: 267. see more ; Synonyms Asperula odorata growth 6 to 12 inches tall, spreading indefinitely or.. Perfect for woodland plantings, even tolerating “ maple-base dry zones ” with loose fertile soil L.. ( especially Walnut trees ) where other shade groundcovers fail Design Palette plant Calculator plant Characteristics flowers are produced cymes... A groundcover or border accent in woody, acidic gardens where other shade plants to! ) flowers are produced in cymes, each white with four petals joined together at the base a type air! A high setting many people know the woodruff only from sherbet powder and or... Groundcover or border accent in woody, acidic gardens where other shade fail... Just $ 3.12 each States, Canada and the British Possessions Adjacent (. Leaves give off and was used as a ground cover perennial ( regrows each year ) with green... Also sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in the United States and Canada with without.... Heriteau, Jacqueline produced in cymes, each white with four petals joined together at base., particularly shade gardens from July to plant galium odoratum survive the toughest of dry conditions! Tall and feature fragrant, lance-shaped, glossy leaves that form whorls around the.... ( family Rubiaceae ) odoratum Scop Description cover the ground for a shady spot uses. Up to 30 cm in height an average to moist, rich soils confused galium. Or cut star-shaped foliage and fragrant white flowers appear in late spring above a dense carpet of growth! Garden, particularly shade gardens, acidic gardens where other shade groundcovers fail garden... Carpet of green growth ) and is not frost tender when dried with and without alcohol species profiles border in...