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Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum
$7999
  • Out of stock
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Delivery and Shipping

Shipping

To obtain a more accurate shipment time-frame, simply enter your zip code in the “Find Your Growing Zone” box to the right. Our plants are grown all over the country and lead time on items may be different because of this. Once your order is placed, you will also receive the specific shipment time-frame information as part of your order confirmation. Once an item ships, you will receive shipment notification and tracking numbers, so you can follow along while your plant travels to your doorstep. We use FedEx, UPS, or USPS at our discretion.

 

Due to winter weather we have put a hold on shipping to the areas shown below in grey. You can still order now and we will ship the plant to you during an appropriate time for your zone.

*If you have found your zone already, it will be highlighted in the table below.

Standard Shipping Rates

At Nature Hills we handle, package and ship the products you order with the utmost care to ensure healthy delivery. Shipping and handling charges are calculated based on the tables below. Please note that some items include an additional handling surcharge, these will be noted on the item's product page.

From To S&H
$0 $19.99 $24.99
$20 $49.99 $29.99
$50 $69.99 $34.99
$70 $99.99 $39.99
$100 $129.99 $44.99
$130 $149.99 $48.99
$150 $150+ Approx 28%

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Plant Highlights

Sweet Woodruff highlights at a glance!

Plant Highlights

  • Brand
    Nature Hills' Choice
  • Botanical Name
    Galium odoratum
  • Growing Zones
    4-9
  • Mature Height
    6 - 12 inches
  • Mature Spread
    6 - 12 inches
  • Sun Exposure
    Full Shade, Partial Shade
  • Moisture
    Moderate
  • Soil
    Widely Adaptable
  • Growth Rate
    Medium
  • Flower Color
    White
  • Pollinator Friendly
    Yes
  • Fragrant
    Yes
  • Pruning Time
    Late Autumn
  • Bloom Period
    Early Spring

The Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is an old-world perennial with delicate white, 4-petalled flowers that look wonderful with its dark green foliage! The sweet-smelling leaves are arranged in whorl around the square stem in evenly spaced intervals, with the starry flowers blooming at the top like stars over a green crown!

The dried leaves and flowers are said to have a grassy vanilla odor like fresh grass and can be used for potpourri and insect repellant in your home. In Germany, the flowers are used to flavor young Riesling, called Maiwein (May Wine).

Galium blooms from late spring to early summer throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 9, these are tender perennials that will completely die back to the ground in cold winters but will pop up in mass in the spring!

Landscape Application:

This little perennial grows in woods and on shaded hedge banks and meadow edges in the dappled shade and near a tree canopy. Flowers are set on tender stalks, with narrow, bright-green leaves, and spread by way of underground rhizomes to form polite mats of textured 6 - 12 inch tall carpets of greenery!

Fantastic edging and borders, fill in the sides of a path or walkway, or your driveway with these frilly perennials! Use Sweet Woodruff as a front-of-the-garden border perennial, in a naturalized area, or as a groundcover beneath shrubs and trees.

These shade-loving carpets will spread out to form a dense, lacy mat and choke out weeds, slow erosion on slopes, and make hard-to-mow hillsides shine! Hardy enough for Rock Gardens and airy enough for a pretty Cottage garden, even the Herb garden benefits from these perennials that are steeped in medicinal and culinary applications!

  • Delicate Small White Flowers
  • Loves Dappled & Partial Shade
  • Fragrant Foliage & Flowers - Stronger When Dried
  • Green Leaves Arranged In Whorls
  • Groundcover, Edging, Massing, Erosion & Weed-Blocking Carpets

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Galium requires full sun but will tolerate morning shade and moist, well-drained soil. Its deep-green foliage develops best in the half-shade, where the sunlight penetrates with difficulty. More shade is required in warm climates. Galium can spread very rapidly and must be planted in an area where it is able to take over or planted in dry soil with reduced moisture access. Clean the area up in the fall after the foliage dies back and top-dress with a layer of mulch or compost for the winter. Deer seldom bothers these aromatic plants!

  • Thrives In Part/Half Shade Sites
  • Well-Drained Soil
  • Moderate to Low Moisture Once Established
  • Remove Foliage In Fall
  • Deer Resistant

Sweet and petite, the Sweet Woodruff perennials are shade-loving ornamental groundcovers that should be included in your garden! Find yours at NatureHills.com!

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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e
ediefromoregon
Correction to first review

Oops, I need to correct something in my first review. I grow sweet woodruff and lemon balm side-by-side in my woods. Sweet woodruff is a great groundcover, and does everything I said in my first review, but it is dubious as a culinary herb - potentially toxic, or so Ive read. Its the lemon balm that makes the great culinary herb. Sorry for the confusion. Please correct my first review.

Dear ediefromoregon,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful update and for clarifying the distinction between sweet woodruff and lemon balm in your woodland garden! We truly appreciate your attention to detail—this kind of insight helps others make safe and informed choices for their own growing spaces.

You’re absolutely right that while sweet woodruff is a lovely, shade-tolerant groundcover with a charming fragrance, it should be used cautiously when it comes to culinary applications due to its coumarin content, which can pose toxicity concerns in larger quantities. Lemon balm, on the other hand, is much loved as a flavorful and safe herb perfect for teas, salads, and more.

For anyone looking to explore these plants further, we suggest using lemon balm in the kitchen while appreciating sweet woodruff mostly for its aesthetic and botanical benefits in shaded garden areas. If you need weaving tips for growing these side-by-side, or if you're interested in herbs with culinary and medicinal benefits that complement either plant, our plant experts are always here to provide personalized guidance.

Thanks again for updating us and helping to keep our gardening community well-informed. Happy growing in your Oregon woods!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

E
Ediefromoregon
Correction to first review

Oops, I need to correct something in my first review. I grow sweet woodruff and lemon balm side-by-side in my woods. Sweet woodruff is a great groundcover, and does everything I said in my first review, but it is dubious as a culinary herb - potentially toxic, or so Ive read. Its the lemon balm that makes the great culinary herb. Sorry for the confusion. Please correct my first review.

Dear Ediefromoregon,

Thank you so much for your thoughtful update and for reaching out to clarify your experience with sweet woodruff and lemon balm. We truly appreciate your attention to detail—it helps fellow plant lovers make informed choices! You’re absolutely right that while sweet woodruff makes a lovely groundcover with many uses, its culinary applications can be controversial due to potential toxicity if not used carefully. Lemon balm, on the other hand, is celebrated and safe for delicious culinary uses.

If you ever want, we’d be happy to assist you in highlighting the distinct qualities of each plant on your review to help future gardeners. Also, if you have questions on how best to incorporate lemon balm or safe guidelines regarding sweet woodruff, don't hesitate to ask—we’re here to support your woodland garden adventures.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

E
Ediefromoregon
multiple use groundcover/herb

I love sweet woodruff, but you really do have to expect it to spread quickly. Its relatively easy to weed out, and I dry my weedings for tea and flavoring for baked goods during the winter months. Mine is growing in bright shade under Douglas fir - notorious for sucking moisture out of the soil - near plants on a drip system. Its holding its own where it can get some supplemental moisture in the summer. Larger perennials can come up through it just fine. Id recommend it for a ground cover under fruit trees in an orchard, or in a woodland setting; especially if the gardener was also into herbs or edible landscaping.

Dear Ediefromoregon,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful and detailed experience with Sweet Woodruff! We truly appreciate you taking the time to highlight both its swift spreading nature and its versatility—not many customers mention using the clippings for tea and baked goods, which is such a wonderful, creative way to extend the plant’s value beyond groundcover.

You’ve balanced the typical challenges of growing underneath moisture-hungry Douglas firs with smart supplemental irrigation, and we admire your careful observations on companion planting. Your recommendation to grow Sweet Woodruff in orchards or woodland settings—especially as part of edible landscaping—is insightful and will surely inspire other gardeners looking for a fragrant, low barrier corker that tolerates a bit of shade.

For ongoing care, you might find it helpful to monitor soil moisture throughout the summer more closely, perhaps adding organic mulch to conserve water while also keeping weeds manageable. If you ever want to explore Ephut.”

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e
ediefromoregon
multiple use groundcover/herb

I love sweet woodruff, but you really do have to expect it to spread quickly. Its relatively easy to weed out, and I dry my weedings for tea and flavoring for baked goods during the winter months. Mine is growing in bright shade under Douglas fir - notorious for sucking moisture out of the soil - near plants on a drip system. Its holding its own where it can get some supplemental moisture in the summer. Larger perennials can come up through it just fine. Id recommend it for a ground cover under fruit trees in an orchard, or in a woodland setting; especially if the gardener was also into herbs or edible landscaping.

Hello ediefromoregon,

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughtful and practical experience with Sweet Woodruff! We truly appreciate how you’ve highlighted its aspects as a rapidly spreading groundcover, as well as its wonderful use in tea and baking—a lovely, creative way to enjoy this plant beyond just its beauty. Your notes about growing it under Douglas fir with supplemental moisture and its compatibility with larger perennials are especially insightful for fellow gardeners with similar conditions.

We agree that Sweet Woodruff lends itself beautifully to shade, woodland settings, or orchard practices, and your recommendation adds valuable real-world perspective to help others envision its potential uses. If you ever want some additional tips on optimizing moisture retention under dry trees, using mulches or adjusting drip emitters, we’d be happy to share more customized advice.

Thanks again for your helpful feedback—we hope your garden under the fir trees thrives with all your nurturing effort and creativity!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Sweet Woodruff

Sweet Woodruff

$7999

Growing Zones

4-9

Mature Height

6 - 12 inches

Mature Spread

6 - 12 inches

Sun

Full Shade, Partial Shade

Foliage Color

N/A

Fall Color

N/A

Flower Color

White
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