Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum

Almanac Planting Co Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) white blooms as the focal point against a blurry green background.

Overview

Uses: Quick spreading herbaceous perennial for shaded locations. May be used as groundcover. 

Benefits: Mat-forming: great for ground cover! Easy to grow and extremely quick spreading! Fragrant leaves and flowers! Used in potpourri. 

Zones: 4 - 8

Sun: Partial Shade to Full Shade

Life Cycle: Perennial 

Mature Height: 6" - 12"

Mature Width: 9" - 18"

Bloom Season: Late Spring through Early Summer

Summary

Galium odoratum—most commonly known as Sweet Woodruff, Sweetscented Bedstraw, and Mugwet—is a herbaceous perennial that's best known for its beautiful small white flowers that emerge in the spring and last about 4 weeks.

It's small, four-petaled flowers are extremely visually attractive, and produce a sweet, refreshing fragrance!

The foliage is also extremely fragrant, and smells like freshly cut hay when cut or crushed. The fragrance is amplified when the plant is dried, making it very popular for potpourris and sachets. 

It's known to thrive in moist, shaded areas where many other plants won't grow. Quickly establishing itself and spreading by both seed and creeping roots, it's often utilized as a unique type of easy to grow ground cover. Use caution though, it's potentially invasive.

Excellent for freshly cut or dried floral arrangements! 

Care

Sweet Woodruff Care

Galium odoratum is very easy to care for and does not require lots of attention or maintenance. 

Although it often does not require fertilizer unless soil conditions are quite poor, fertilizations will accelerate growth and keep your plant well fed. We suggest using our slow release fertilizer, or something similar.

Sweet Woodruff may be grown in areas that get some sun, although primarily shaded areas are often much better. Prolonged exposure to strong afternoon sun will injure this plant. Plants exposed to too much sun or dry conditions will likely become prematurely dormant. 

Water regularly after planting until established, or in periods of drought. Its ideal soil is moist, rich, and well draining.

Propagation is accomplished via division or seeds. 

Size

Size of Sweet Woodruff for Sale Online

The Galium odoratum that we sell online will ship in a greenhouse grade grow pot. Each plant will be appropriately sized for its pot. Please contact us with any specific questions.

Size of Sweet Woodruff When Fully Grown

Galium odoratum typically grows to a height of 6" to 12" and width of 9" to 18".

Additional Information

Common Names of Galium odoratum

  • Sweet Woodruff

  • Sweetscented Bedstraw

  • Mugwet

  • Rockweed

  • Kiss Me Quick

Toxicity and Risks of Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum is considered to be toxic to both pets and people, especially in cases when large amounts are ingested. 

The toxicity of this plant is due to its concentration of coumarin, present throughout all parts of the plant.

Symptoms of toxicity include abdominal pain, nausea, headaches, dizziness, internal bleeding, liver damage, and death. 

Almanac Planting Co Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) in bloom growing in a mass

*This plant is a part of our Archived Plant Collection. Although no longer for sale, we keep pages like this on our site for the benefit of others.