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Galium odoratum

Also Known As

Sweet Scented Bedstraw
Sweet Woodruff

Plant type

perennial, groundcover

size

H: 6"-12"
W: 12"-24"

planting zones

5a-8b

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Galium odoratum plant details

Galium odoratum is a slow-growing broadleaf semi-evergreen perennial groundcover with green foliage. In spring white flowers emerge. Grows well with sun - shade and even moisture - high water. Adapts to various soil conditions. Does well in average, rich and well-drained soil.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Galium odoratum

Plant type: perennial groundcover
Plant family: rubiaceae
Foliage: semi-evergreen green
Mature size: 12 IN - 24 IN - wide, 6 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: white blooms in spring
Uses: cottage garden, fragrant, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Galium odoratum

USDA Zones: 5a - 8b
Sun exposure: sun - shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - high

Soil needs: average, rich and well-drained

Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Beautiful Groundcover for shady areas?whorls of deep-green leaves sparkling with tiny star-like white flowers in spring; flowers and foliage are sweetly scented and used in bouquets, as mattress stuffing, and for May wine. PSh-Sh/M

By: Forestfarm

Also called Lady's Laces by old-country cottagers. The small, fresh green leaves in whorls and the sparkling white flowers, like clusters of tiny stars, make this perennial a treasure of the shady, moist garden. A ground cover, it spreads quickly to form uniform mats of green. Spring-blooming. Dry leaves have a fragrance like freshly mown hay and were once used as strewing herbs. Today we use sweet woodruff as an essential ingredient in May wine and potpourri.

By: Select Seeds

Fragrant white blooms appear April through May on this shade-loving plant. The dark green foliage grows in whorls of 6-9 leaves around the stem. Sweet Woodruff is an ideal groundcover for moist, shady areas since it chokes out weeds and has a nice fragrance. The combination of Sweet Woodruff and Blue London Grove Phlox creates an eye-catching groundcover for shady areas.

By: Logee's Plants for Home & Garden

A lush, fragrant, ground cover ideal for semi-shade (or sun) with multitudes of small white flowers. Lets your spring bulbs push through. Spreads quickly but is not invasive. Keeps its perfume even when dried.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

Sweet woodruff. The common name is derived from the sweet-smelling leaves and stems that give off a hay-like aroma when dried. A low-spreading perennial that blooms in spring and summer, it has been cultivated since the Middle Ages to flavor May wine. Stems reach 6-12" high and feature star-shaped, white flowers above whorled leaves. Plant in light to deep shade and in loose, moist soils with regular to abundant water. Spreads rapidly with adequate water. The dark green, aromatic foliage adds a rich woodland effect to shaded situations. Hardy to below 0F. Europe, North Africa.

By: Native Sons

Spreading perennial herb with white flowers in late spring. Likes shade and moist soil. Good edging and ground cover. Use in May wine. Vanilla scented leaves.

By: Accents for Home and Garden

White star-shaped fragrant flowers.

By: Little Prince of Oregon

Small groundcover, to only 6-12" tall, form clumps that spread slowly at the edges. Clusters of white flowers hover above the plants in May and early June, brightening the shady garden. Foliage is fine-textured and aromatic when crushed, hence the common name of sweetscented bedstraw. Shade to part shade in rich soil with consistent summer water to maintain moisture. Can go summer dormant if dry. Frost hardy in USDA zone 5.