List 13 – Galium odoratum
Galium odoratum (sweet woodruff)
Family: Rubiaceae
USDA Hardiness Zone: 4-8
Size:
- 75-1.5 ft wide
- 5-1 ft tall
Form:
- Mat-forming; spreading
Soil & Water requirements:
- Medium to wet
- Well-drained
Exposure:
- Part to full shade
Leaves:
- Whorled leaves with small hooks
- Chartreuse; lanceolate
- Fine textured and soft
- Semi-evergreen perennial
- Fragrant leaves; especially when dried
Flowers:
- Tiny, white flowers; four petals
- Blooming from April to May
Suitable uses:
- Groundcover
- Rock gardens
- Shady borders
- Edging plant
Other:
- Vigorous, but cannot handle traffic
- Low maintenance
- Sweet smell when dry; dried stems used to be placed inside the pages of books to help give them a better smell (hence ‘sweet’ woodruff)