An elegant looking groundcover for shady sites, Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is an attractive fragrant herbaceous perennial bearing pretty clusters of white, star-shaped flowers in the spring above fragrant, lance-shaped, dark green leaves in whorls. The pleasant sweet scent is reminiscent of freshly mowed hay. Not only does it serve well as a pretty groundcover, the aromatic intensity of the foliage increases when dried, thus dried leaves are popularly used in sachets or potpourris. Sweet Woodruff has also been used in perfumes and the leaves can be used to flavor teas and cold fruit drinks or to make May wine, a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff, orange and pineapple. Plants are resistant to deer, rabbits, slugs, snails and juglone, making it a good choice for a groundcover under black walnut trees.

Landscape & Garden Uses

Growing 8 to 10 inches tall and spreading to 2 feet or more, Sweet Woodruff is ideal for use as a groundcover or filler plant in those shady areas of the landscape or gardens where the soil stays consistently moist to wet. It is perfect for use as a groundcover under trees, even black walnut trees, and works well on shady slopes. A fine addition to fragrance gardens, rain gardens, white theme gardens, cottage gardens and rock gardens..

Suggested Spacing:  18 inches apart for mass plantings

Cultural Preferences