Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
Also listed as Asperula odorata, Asperula eugeniae
Also known as Woodruff, Sweetscented Bedstraw, Sweet White Woodruff
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing groundcover with delicate whorled leaves and tiny white or pale pink flowers that emit a sweet fragrance. Its foliage smells pleasantly of fresh hay and is traditionally used to flavor May wine.
Why grow it
Sweet woodruff fills a niche as a low, fine-textured groundcover for shaded areas where many aggressive spreaders prove too vigorous. Unlike some ornamental groundcovers, it offers dual utility: aesthetic appeal in spring when its white flowers appear, and culinary interest through its hay-scented foliage, which has been used traditionally in beverages and potpourri. It typically requires less maintenance than taller shade perennials once established, though it spreads more modestly than invasive alternatives.
Watch out for
Sweet woodruff prefers consistently moist soil and struggles in dry shade, so site selection matters more than with some groundcovers. In warmer regions or with overhead watering, it can become susceptible to powdery mildew or rust, making good air circulation advisable. The plant self-seeds readily in favorable conditions, which may require periodic thinning depending on whether you want it to expand or remain contained.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing groundcover with delicate whorled leaves and tiny white or pale pink flowers that emit a sweet fragrance. Its foliage smells pleasantly of fresh hay and is traditionally used to flavor May wine.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sweet Woodruff grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sweet woodruff fills a niche as a low, fine-textured groundcover for shaded areas where many aggressive spreaders prove too vigorous. Unlike some ornamental groundcovers, it offers dual utility: aesthetic appeal in spring when its white flowers appear, and culinary interest through its hay-scented foliage, which has been used traditionally in beverages and potpourri. It typically requires less maintenance than taller shade perennials once established, though it spreads more modestly than invasive alternatives.
Watch out for
Sweet woodruff prefers consistently moist soil and struggles in dry shade, so site selection matters more than with some groundcovers. In warmer regions or with overhead watering, it can become susceptible to powdery mildew or rust, making good air circulation advisable. The plant self-seeds readily in favorable conditions, which may require periodic thinning depending on whether you want it to expand or remain contained.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native Range
Europe and Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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