Botanical Name: Galium odoratum
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Common Name: Sweet Woodruff  
Plant photo of: Galium odoratum
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Water Saving Tip:

Check the soil's moisture level before watering.

You can reduce your water use 20-50% by regularly checking the soil before watering.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Ground cover, Perennial, Herb

 

Height Range

Under 1'

 

Flower Color

White

 

Flower Season

Spring, Summer

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

n/a

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:
  • Description

  • Notes

Sweet Woodruff is a charming, delicate-looking groundcover well suited to dry shade areas; but its appearance is deceiving as this is one tough little plant). Growing to about 2 to 4 inches in height, with single plants eventually spreading 12 to 18 inches, it slowly carpets shady spots with bright green, whorled leaves. Flowers occur in spring, are white, four-petaled, and fragrant. Stems are slightly sticky. Plants emit a strong odor of freshly mown hay when foliage is crushed or cut. Aromatic intensity of the foliage increases when dried, thus dried leaves are popularly used in sachets or potpourris. Plants have also been used commercially in perfumes. Leaves are sometimes used to flavor teas and cold fruit drinks. Leaves are also used to make May wine, a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff.