Sweet waldmeister is a specter - loving groundcover that ’s sweetly scented — and tougher than it looks .
Sweet woodruffmakes a big affirmation in almost any shade garden . For one , the low - growing groundcover is adorned with lilliputian white bloom each spring . For another , the foliage and flowers accept a sweet , grassy , vanilla - alike fragrance often compare to fresh - cut hay . Sweet woodruff is a coffee ( Rubiaceae ) family member and anherbaceous perennialhardy in zone 4 - 9 . It is a popularlawn alternativeand needs petty sunlight to boom in tricky spots ( like under trees or bush ) where other plant may struggle .
Where to Plant Sweet Woodruff
Sweet woodruff is a mat - forming plant that makes an excellent ground cover beneath trees or in nerveless , miserable - faint garden spot . The wanton - to - grow perennial can even prosper in the understory of black walnut Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree — which is famed because black walnut trees produce a chemical substance ( juglone ) thatharms or kills other industrial plant . Sweet woodruff is unbothered .
Sweet woodruff is often used as a promptly - spreading ground cover in bungalow and stone gardens . It produce beautifullybetween stepping stonesor along adry creek bedor the border of a path . The shallow - settle down perennial also offersnatural erosion control , which name it excellent for meadowscapes , established surface area , and slopes .
Sweet woodruff is not classified as incursive but can grow aggressively in moist , loamy stain . If restraint is a concern , know that the woodland garden favorite is best behaved in middling dry shade .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
How and When to Plant Sweet Woodruff
The most efficient way to grow mellisonant woodruff is to start with baby’s room - arise plants in early spring . After thedanger of frost has guide , loosen the soil and dig a mess slightly wide than your plant ’s tooth root clod . Place the flora in the hollow and replace the move ground . pack the land down gently to remove air pockets and water well . If planting more than one mellisonant woodruff plant , place them 10 to 12 inches asunder .
Sweet Woodruff Care Tips
Sweet sweet woodruff is an herbaceous repeated indigen to Europe and North Africa . It grows cursorily and well in full to fond shade , take shape a carpet of lilliputian white blooms over starburst - anatomy leave in former May . The aromatic ground cover requires little care but does not tolerate drouth .
Light
Sweet woodruff prefers full to fond shade . It can stand some Dominicus exposure but may go dormant or perish in red-hot summer month . Infull sunlight , the easy , redolent leaves may also singe .
Soil and Water
Sweet fragrant bedstraw thrives in moist , loamy , well - drained soil that isslightly acidic(6.0 to 6.8 pH ) , but suffer a spacious range of a function of soil . Sweet woodruff will also grow in Henry Clay or sandy soils ( but less prolifically ) .
Thefast - spread out , subtlety - roll in the hay groundcoverlikes average to wet ground and may go dormant if the grunge dry out . If you want to encourage outgrowth , irrigate your gratifying woodruff whenever the top in of soil feel dry .
Temperature and Humidity
Sweet woodruff prefer cool shade and median humidity but can brook a wide grasp of climates . It fares best in temperatures between 68˚ and 95˚ Fahrenheit . Prolongedexposure to in high spirits temperatures(or sun ) may make bleaching , sunburn , loop , or other dormancy . In uttermost cases , the plant life may wilt and die . Extreme stale ( below 0˚ ) may fall anthesis and sprouting the following year .
Fertilizer
Sweet Asperula odorata does not require fertilization , but an annual feeding with a balanced slow - release plant food in early fountain will accelerate outgrowth in piteous soil .
Pruning
Sweet Asperula odorata does not want prune . It does , however , diffuse easily via rhizomes and seed . Left uncurbed , it may grow aggressively and overwhelm other plants . To boil down distribute , hired man pull undesirable growth or mop your sugared woodruff withsharp blades set on high . If displume , loosen the stain around the roots to remove the rootstock . Otherwise , the delicate staunch can easy snap and bequeath the root behind to grow again . Mowing will not eliminate show sweet Asperula odorata , but it will keep it from spreading .
Potting and Repotting
scented woodruff can be grown in container and attain a pretty companion plant life for gravid potted perennials , shrubs , or tree diagram . Just be sure to pair it withplants that opt moist to moderately pie-eyed , well - drain soil .
Plan to repot and/or divide container - grown sweet woodruff every 2 to 3 old age in the bound . Dig around the edges of the plant life and loosen the soil to pull out up the entire plant without damaging the origin arrangement . Use your fingers to divide the plant into 2 or 3 small plane section , each with a healthy set of antecedent and shoot . Replant each section and body of water well .
Pests and Problems
Sweet woodruff is n’t prone to issues with pests and diseases but can have issues with leaf spot , rusting , and powdery mould . Slugs can also be a nuisance but are well dissuade with a aspersion of diatomaceous worldly concern .
How to Propagate Sweet Woodruff
The most efficient elbow room to spread unfermented Asperula odorata is via division . In the spring or nightfall , carefully dig around your plant . Loosen the soil to lift the plant without damaging the root system . With your fingers , separate the works into 2 or 3 section , each with a feasible set of root and shoots . Replant the sections at least 10 to 12 column inch apart .
semen propagation , on the other hand , produce less ordered results . For best results , sow sweet woodruff seeds directly in the ground in early spring and continue them with a level of peat moss . Keep the grunge evenly moist and cross your fingers for germination . Or , start your seeds indoors ( at least 10 to 12 week before thelast frost date ) with a period ofcold stratification . Sow the seed in a seed - starter motor mix and keep them at way temperature for 2 weeks . encompass them and refrigerate them for 4 to 6 week . During the cold stratification , keep the soil evenly moist . Next , take the seeds back to room temperature ( while still in their come - starter mix ) and earmark them to shoot for 2 to 4 month . If successful , implant your seedling outdoors after the danger of Robert Lee Frost has passed .
Companion Plants for Sweet Woodruff
Columbine
Perfect for bungalow and woodland gardens , columbinesare available in a rainbow of colors . Some , like western columbine ( Aquilegia formosa ) and eastern red columbine ( Aquilegia canadensi ) are even native to North America . Columbine blossom resemble folded paper lanterns and pull in pollinator — especially hummingbird — from far and all-embracing . Columbine expand in Lord’s Day or fond shade in moist , well - drained soil ( in zone 3 - 9 ) . The plant life are short - lived but self - ejaculate pronto . To keep ego - seeding , deadhead your columbine plantsafter they flower .
‘Dutchman’s Breeches’ Bleeding Heart
' Dutchman ’s Breeches’bleeding heart(Dicentra cucullaria ) isa perennial ( hardy in zones 3 - 9 ) native to the shady woodland environment of the easterly United States . It has typical pratfall - like blossoms which give it its amusing name ( and make it gentle to acknowledge ) . Like sweet woodruff , this spring flower like consistently moist , well - drain soil . It preferscool surface area with partial to full shadeand protective cover from the harsh afternoon Sunday .
Hakone Grass
The refined , bamboo - like radical and sonant green blades ofHakone grassbring color and elegance to fill in garden spots . The perennial prefer partial shade and moist , well - drain soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 . It is largely unbothered by disease and pesterer ( even deer ) and makes a elusive , drought - kind flora for landscape painting edging in zones 5 - 9 .
Hosta
Hostasare among the well-to-do plant to acquire and come in arange of foliation shapes , colors , texture , and sizes . To successfully originate hostas , you need shade ; rich , loamy , well - drained soil ; and ample rainfall . Once instal , however , they are a gentle wind to maintain ( in zones 3 - 9 ) . This rugged , shade - make love perennial ( sometimes screw as plantain tree lily ) alsoblooms with flame snowy or lavender flowersin summer .
Virginia Bluebell
Virginia bluebells , aboriginal to eastern North America , are woodland garden dish with blue , ship’s bell - shape flowers that open above shining gullible foliage in midspring . Like sweet woodruff , Virginia bluebell ( Mertensia virginiana ) mature best in part shade and moist soil ( in zone 3 - 8) . In ideal conditions , they will achieve their blossoming electric potential in late spring — often before the trees have begun to flower and leaf out .
Canadian Wild Ginger
Like sweet woodruff , Canadianwild ginger(Asarum canadense ) is a low - growing plant that thrives in moist , suspect topographic point ( in zones 3 - 8) . Unlike sweet sweet woodruff , Canadian wild ginger is native to North America . This stemless plant bears dark immature heart - shape leaves with visible veining and sneaky cupful - like purple - brown blossom that hide beneath the leafage . Wild ginger spreads slowly by rhizomes to produce a lush groundcover inmedium to smashed , well - drain soil . Primarily grown for ornamental economic consumption , wild peppiness is not a relative of culinary pep . However , its roots have a potent ginger - like odor .
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes , mellifluous woodruff is deer and rabbit - resistant . The scent of foliage and flowers ( which most humans see pleasant ) is off - putting to browsing cervid and rabbit .
Sweet fragrant bedstraw forms a dense flatness and can crowd out ticklish plants let in some Mary Jane and , unfortunately , some aboriginal flora . It does not , however , compete for nutrients and space when paired with potent plants with deeper root systems .
Occasional brushing or light foot traffic is all right , but sweet Galium odoratum is too delicate to plow overweight base traffic . For this reason , it is often planted between pavers and at the edge of walk .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Sweet woodruff is now and again used as a culinary herb in spirits , wine , teatime , and ice ointment . you’re able to also reap twig of sweet woodruff to tote up to wreaths , potpourris , and sachets .
To make the most of your sweet sweet woodruff ’s fragrance , harvesting stems in the other morn just after bloom begins . shorten several sprigs ( no more than 1/4 of the plant ) and hang them upside down in bunches in a warm , dry , coloured location .
Black Walnut Toxicity . Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin - Madison .
Credit: Randall Schieber
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: David Nevala
Julie Mikos.
