Sweet Woodruff (Botanical name: Galium odoratum) also called Sweet-Scented Bedstraw, is a fast-growing, mat-forming herb and ground cover with dark green leaves and small, white, waxy, star-shaped flowers that bloom in spring. When crushed or cut, and especially dried, it has a grassy vanilla fragrance. Prefers partial to full shade, even under a Black Walnut tree. Add the leaves to fruit salads, jellies, and herbal teas, and use the flowers as an adorable and edible garnish. Reseeding and shallow runner roots enable it to spread easily.

A delightful shade-loving perennial herb that transforms shaded garden corners into fragrant, flowering ground cover. Sweet Woodruff's delicate white star-shaped blooms and soft green foliage create an enchanting spring display while its distinctive grassy vanilla scent develops when leaves are crushed or dried.

This versatile herb thrives in partial to full shade—even beneath challenging Black Walnut trees—making it perfect for difficult garden spots. Its shallow runner roots and natural reseeding habit allow it to spread gracefully as a living carpet, while attracting pollinators throughout the season.

Harvest fresh leaves for fruit salads, jellies, and herbal teas, or use the charming edible flowers as garnish.

Traditionally valued for its medicinal properties, Sweet Woodruff has supported wellness practices for centuries. Plant in spring, fall, or winter for a hardy perennial that requires minimal care and rewards you with beauty and fragrance year after year.

• Grassy vanilla fragrance
• Culinary and medicinal
• Attracts bees, butterflies, and other pollinators

As a companion plant, it attracts all sorts of friendly pollinators to the garden.

As a medicinal herb, Sweet Woodruff has been used internally to treat congestion, insomnia, migraine headaches, nerve pain, and water retention, and externally to treat burns, wounds, and swelling.

⚠️ Contains naturally occurring coumarin and should not be ingested in large quantities if you are taking medication for circulatory disorders or are pregnant.

⚠️ Medicinal properties are presented as information only, and are not a recommendation or prescription for use. Consult a medical professional before using any herb medicinally.

SEED PLANTING TIPS

• Botanical name: Galium odoratum
• Life cycle: Herbaceous perennial
• Planting season: Spring, fall, winter
• Days to maturity: 90-120 days
• Depth to plant seeds: 1/4" deep
• Days to germinate (sprout): 10-200 days
• Germination soil temps: 60F-70F
• Spacing between plants: 8"-12" apart
• Spacing between rows: 18"-24" apart
• # of plants per sq. ft.: Appx. 1 plant per sq. ft.
• Soil types: Clay, sandy, loamy, rich, moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: 4.3-8.3
• Sun needs: Full shade, part shade
• Water needs: Average
• Cold stratify: Yes
• Frost tolerant: Yes
• Heat tolerant: No
• Drought tolerant: No
• Deer resistant: Yes
• Culinary use: Yes
• Medicinal use: Yes