Sweet Woodruff
Galium odoratum
herbSweet woodruff is a charming low perennial groundcover for shade, with whorls of bright green leaves and a carpet of tiny white star flowers in spring. The dried foliage smells of fresh hay and vanilla and is the traditional flavoring for German May wine.
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Sun
full shade
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Water
Every 4 days
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Harvest
~90 days
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Difficulty
easy
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
8-12 in. apart
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Planting Depth
Set transplant at crown level
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Soil pH
5.5-7.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Moist, humus-rich
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4 – 8
When to Fertilize
Little needed; light spring feed
Fertilizer
Compost; low needs
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant divisions or transplants in spring or fall in moist, humus-rich soil in part to full shade, spacing them about a foot apart to knit into a carpet. Sweet woodruff thrives where little else will, even in dry shade and under black walnuts once established. It spreads by runners, so give it room or edge it; little feeding is needed.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Jul 14
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Foxglove: A fellow woodland plant that enjoys the same moist shade
- Strawberry: Woodruff carpets shady ground that alpine strawberries also tolerate
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Usually shrugged off; thin dense mats for airflow and set traps in wet spells
🌾 Harvest & storage
Cut clean stems just as the flowers open for the best fragrance, which only develops as the foliage dries. Hang or lay the stems to dry, then steep them briefly in wine or use in sachets and potpourri.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
The dried leaves contain coumarin, giving the sweet hay-vanilla scent used to flavor May wine and freshen linens; spring flowers offer nectar to early bees. Use culinary amounts only, in moderation.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
Use in small culinary amounts only. Sweet woodruff contains coumarin, the compound behind its sweet hay-and-vanilla scent, which has a blood-thinning effect if eaten in large amounts. Enjoy it sparingly to flavor May wine and teas, and avoid regular or heavy internal use, especially if you take blood-thinning medication.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.