Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum
A widespread native to deciduous forests of northern Eurasia ( from western Europe to eastern Siberia; south to the Mediterranean to Turkey to Korea and northern Japan ). This is a vigorous, rhizomatous perennial groundcover that can form a spreading mat up to 1 x 7 feet with age. It is an excellent ornamental woodland groundcover.
Its dense, glossy emerald green foliage is of great beauty and the leaves up to 1.5 x 0.5 inches are arranged in whorls of 6 to 8. The foliage turns yellow in the fall and is either deciduous or semi-evergreen depending on climate.
The abundant, tiny, white, fragrant, star-shaped flowers are arranged in clusters from May to June ( sometimes sporadically until August ).
Prefers cool summer climates and moist, slightly acidic, well drained soil in partial to full shade. In southern gardens it will still succeed on shady sites that do not dry out.
In cool climates it can tolerate dry shade under trees.
Sweet Woodruff is hardy from zones 3 to 7 and is deer resistant. Clumps can be divided during autumn or spring. It is not prone to insect pests, disease problems are rare but include powdery mildew and rust.

* photo taken on April 5 2010 in Clarksville, MD


* photo taken on April 28 2010 in Clarksville, MD

* photo taken on annual Horticultural Society of Maryland Garden Tour

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on May 17 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 6 2015 in Ellicott City, MD

* photo taken on May 8 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on June 12 2017 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 6 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 25 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 21 2019 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 17 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Apr 27 2024 in Columbia, MD