Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a perennial plant which means it comes back every year. It is 6-8” tall, mounding, blooming beautiful clusters of white fragrant flowers from May-June. It is also listed as an herb because of its sweet perfume.  When crushed, it smells of newly mown grass or hay or sometimes you can even smell vanilla.

It is usually used as a groundcover in a semi shady area where it spreads into a thick mat that will choke out weeds.  I love it as it still lets other plantings grow through.   I have it interplanted between other perennials and my shrubs. 

History:

Sweet woodruff's use doesn't end when the growing season ends. In former times, sweet woodruff herbs were commonly harvested and used for medicinal and culinary purposes. E.g., the fresh leaves were used medicinally to heal wounds. Nowadays, we more often value this herb as a fragrant plant. It lends a fragrance to linens, sachets and potpourris.

Medieval churches hung garlands and wreaths of woodruff during religious holidays.

Germans used the herb to flavor their May wine. The flowers (usually fresh) are used in the preparation of May wine (called "Maiwein" or "Maibowle" in German), which is a punch made from white wine flavored with woodruff, orange and pineapple and sweetened with a little sugar.

In herbal folklore, sweet woodruff is said to signify humility because it grows – shyly – so close to the ground.  The name derieves from the French rovelle, or “wheel” to describe the way the leaves radiate from the stem, like spokes on a wheel.

Caveat in Growing Sweet Woodruff:

Sweet woodruff herbs can be invasive plants. However, they won't spread if grown in dry soil Since many plants perform poorly in dry shade, sweet woodruff offers a solution for spots on the landscape plagued by such conditions.

More on Sweet Woodruff:

The intensity of the fragrance of sweet woodruff's foliage increases when dried, and its aromatic quality lasts for years. It is, consequently, a favorite in potpourris and wreaths. The fragrance of sweet woodruff herbs has been variously described as resembling new-mown hay or vanilla.

For optimal fragrance, harvest the leaves of sweet woodruff right after the plants bloom. The harvested branches can be tied in bunches and hung in a warm, dark place to dry.

The aromatic intensity of woodruff intensifies when it is dried, making it a popular addition to sachets and potpourris. Sweet woodruff plants have also been used commercially in perfumes. The leaves are used to flavor teas and cold fruit drinks.

Medicinally…..

During the Middle Ages, sweet woodruff was widely used as a poultice for wounds and cuts and taken internally for digestive and liver problems. In modern day herbalism an infusion is used for its diuretic and anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic effect.  It had a reputation for combating jaundice and nervousness, healing wounds and regulating the activity of the heart. Teas from the leaves are still used for stomach aches. The coumarin content of sweet woodruff can produce headaches and other toxic effects if large doses are consumed.

Other tidbits….

This plant has also long been used as an insect repellent, and it was scattered in sick rooms and root cellars to keep the air smelling sweet. Secure the dried leaves in muslin sacks and place in drawers, closets or the pantry. Or, sprinkle the dried leaves around the outside of windows and doors, and in your cellar.

You can also use woodruff as a natural plant dye; the leaves will produce a light brown dye, and the roots a light red.

Unlike the fragrance of most herbs, which dissipates soon after drying, the haylike odor of dried sweet woodruff intensifies and persists for years - a fact explained by the presence of the chemical substance coumarin, which is sometimes used as a fixative for perfumes. Because of its pleasant fragrance, sweet woodruff was once used as a scenting herb for homes and churches and as a stuffing for mattresses. The dried leaves give linen closets a sweet aroma and reportedly keep moths away.

Balsam Fir Potpourri

1 cup balsam needles

1 cup sweet woodruff leaves

1 cup dried violet blossoms

1 cup lavender 2 TBS salt

1/2cup bee balm blossoms

1 oz balsam Peru tincture

Seal and let set to "cure", occasionally shaking the mix.

In potpourris, since it not only adds a fragrance of its own but acts as a fixative for other scents, woodruff's contribution is twofold. Sachets of the dried herb can be laid among the household linens; in an earlier age, the leaves were even used to stuff mattresses