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Galium odoratum
| Common name: |
Sweet Woodruff |
Family: |
Rubiaceae |
| Author: |
(L.)Scop. |
Botanical references: |
17, 200 |
| Synonyms: |
Asperula odorata (L.) |
| Known Hazards: |
None known |
| Range: |
Northern and central Europe, including Britain, south and east to N. Africa and Siberia. |
| Habitat: |
Woodland and shady areas[4, 14] on damp calcareous and base rich soils[17]. Often found in beech woods[268]. |
| Edibility Rating (1-5): |
3 | Medicinal Rating (1-5): | 3 |
| Other Common Names: | From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below. |
| Asperula Olorosa [E], Hay Plant [H], Kokulu Belumotu [E], Lievevrouwbedstro [D], Star Grass [H], Sweet Grass [H], Sweet Woodruff [H,L], Sweet-scented Bedstraw [B], Sweetscented Bedstraw [P], Woodruff [E,H,L], |
| Epithets: | From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets |
|
odoratum = scented
odora = fragrant
|
| Systematics: | From a USDA Plants Database |
|
Order: Rubiales. Madder family
|
| Other Range Info: |
From the Ethnobotany Database |
|
Europe
Spain Turkey Us
|
Physical Characteristics
Perennial growing to 0.15m by 0.45m at a medium rate. It is hardy to zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in flower from May to July, and the seeds ripen from July to August. The scented flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Flies and bees.
The plant is self-fertile.
We rate it 3/5 for edibility and
3/5 for medicinal use.
The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils.
The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) or semi-shade (light woodland).
It requires dry or moist soil.
It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Habitats and Possible Locations
Woodland, Dappled Shade, Shady Edge, Deep Shade, Ground Cover.Edible Uses
Condiment
Drink Flowers Leaves Tea.
Leaves - raw or cooked[62]. The leaves are coumarin-scented (like
freshly mown hay), they are used as a flavouring in cooling drinks[2, 9, 27]
and are also added to fruit salads etc[183, 200]. The leaves are soaked in
white wine to make 'Maitrank', an aromatic tonic drink that is made in
Alsace[238].
A fragrant and delicious tea is made from the green-dried leaves and
flowers[2, 183, 268]. Slightly wilted leaves are used, the tea has a fresh,
grassy flavour[200].
The sweet-scented flowers are eaten or used as a garnish[183].
Medicinal Uses
Disclaimer
Antispasmodic
Cardiac Diaphoretic Diuretic Homeopathy Sedative.
Sweet woodruff was widely used in herbal medicine during the Middle
Ages, gaining a reputation as an external application to wounds and cuts and
also taken internally in the treatment of digestive and liver problems[4]. In
current day herbalism it is valued mainly for its tonic, diuretic and
anti-inflammatory affect[254].
The leaves are antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative[9,
13, 21, 200]. An infusion is used in the treatment of insomnia and nervous
tension, varicose veins, biliary obstruction, hepatitis and jaundice[9, 238].
The plant is harvested just before or as it comes into flower and can be
dried for later use[9]. One report says that it should be used with
caution[21] whilst another says that it is entirely safe[9]. Excessive doses
can produce dizziness and symptoms of poisoning[268].
The dried plant contains coumarins and these act to prevent the clotting of
blood - though in excessive doses it can cause internal bleeding[254]. The
plant is grown commercially as a source of coumarin, used to make an
anticoagulant drug[268]. Do not use this remedy if you are taking
conventional medicine for circulatory problems or if you are pregnant[254].
A number of species in this genus contain asperuloside, a substance that
produces coumarin and gives the scent of new-mown hay as the plant
dries[238]. Asperuloside can be converted into prostaglandins (hormone-like
compounds that stimulate the uterus and affect blood vessels), making the
genus of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry[238].
A homeopathic remedy made from the plant is used in the treatment of
inflammation of the uterus[238]. We have a more details factsheet on the history and medicinal use of this plant. Email webmaster@pfaf.org for details.
Other Uses
Dye
Ground cover Pot-pourri Repellent Strewing.
A red dye is obtained from the root[168].
Soft-tan and grey-green dyes are obtained from the stems and leaves[168].
A good ground-cover plant for growing on woodland edges or in the cool shade
of shrubs[24, 200]. It spreads rapidly at the roots[28, 197, 208]. It is an
ideal carpeting plant for bulbs to grow through[K].
Although the fresh plant has very little aroma, as it dries it becomes very
aromatic with the scent of newly-mown grass and then retains this aroma for
years[2, 200]. It is used in the linen cupboard to protect from moths etc.[4,
14] It was also formerly used as a strewing herb and is an ingredient of
pot-pourri[238]. It was also hung up in bunches in the home in order to keep
the rooms cool and fragrant during the summertime[245].
Cultivation details
Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade[200]. Tolerates dry
soils but the leaves quickly become scorched when growing in full sun[200].
This species does not thrive in a hot climate[200]. Prefers a moist
calcareous soil[9, 13, 14]. Dislikes very acid soils[187]. Tolerates a pH in
the range 4.3 to 8.3. This species is very tolerant of atmospheric pollution
and grows well in towns[208].
A very cold-hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -25° c[187].
Sweet woodruff is occasionally cultivated in the herb garden for its
medicinal and other uses. The dried foliage has the sweet scent of newly mown
hay[245].
A very ornamental plant[1] but it spreads rapidly[28] and can be
invasive[200]. However, this is rarely to the detriment of other plants since
these are normally able to grow through it[200]. It does no harm to any
plants more than 60cm tall[208].
Propagation
Seed - best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in late summer[200]. The
seed can also be sown in spring though it may be very slow to germinate[200].
A period of cold stratification helps reduce the germination time. Lots of
leafmold in the soil and the shade of trees also improves germination rates.
Division in spring. The plant can also be successfully divided throughout
the growing season if the divisions are kept moist until they are
established[200]. Very easy, larger clumps can be replanted direct into their
permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them
on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.
Cuttings of soft wood, after flowering, in a frame.
Scent
-
Leaves: Dried
- The dried foliage has the sweet scent of newly mown hay.
Suppliers
Plants For A Future is working with the following groups to try and make these plants easily available. Parts of the proceeds will be donated to so please mention us when ordering.
- Wildwood Nurseries
-
Lower Manor Cottage
Thornbury
Holsworthy
Devon
EX22 7DD
Email: lorna@macace.co.uk
Phone 01409 261324
Fax 01409 261324
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Wildwood by email/phone
Last Updated: March 03
Item:
Galium odoratum
(woodruff)
- Cool Temperate Nurseries
-
10 Ivy Grove
Nottingham
NG7 7LZ
Email: philcorbett53@hotmail.com
Phone 0115 847 8302
Fax 0115 847 8302
Distribution: UK
How to order: Direct from Cool Temperate by email/phone
Notes: Many Trees supplied on their own rootstock
Last Updated: April 03
Item:
Galium odoratum
(Woodruff)
For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.
PFAF Web Pages
This plant is mentioned in the following web pages
Web References
- Details of Medicinal Uses, Habitats, etc. in M. Grieve A Modern Herbal (1931) [4]
- [H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
- [E] Ethnobotany Data
(common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
- [V] Images
from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A& M Bioinformatics Working Group.
- [B] Data
(Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
- [G] Data
(Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
- [PHARM] Phytochemical Data
(common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
- [P] Data.
(uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
- [HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
References for Asperula odorata (a possible synonym).
References for galium odoratum (a possible synonym).
References for the family Rubiaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.
Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.
[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[9] Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981 ISBN 0-600-37216-2
Covers plants in Europe. a drawing of each plant, quite a bit of interesting information.
[13] Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975 ISBN 0-600-33545-3
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
[14] Holtom. J. and Hylton. W. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press 1979 ISBN 0-87857-262-7
A good herbal.
[17] Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press 1962
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[21] Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983 ISBN 0-553-23827-2
Lots of information tightly crammed into a fairly small book.
[24] Baines. C. Making a Wildlife Garden.
Fairly good with lots of ideas about creating wildlife areas in the garden.
[27] Vilmorin. A. The Vegetable Garden. Ten Speed Press ISBN 0-89815-041-8
A reprint of a nineteenth century classic, giving details of vegetable varieties. Not really that informative though.
[28] Knight. F. P. Plants for Shade. Royal Horticultural Society. 1980 ISBN 0-900629-78-9
A small but informative booklet listing plants that can be grown in shady positions with a few cultivation details.
[62] Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982 ISBN 0442222009
Very readable.
[168] Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974 ISBN 0-02-544950-8
A very good and readable book on dyeing.
[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[187] Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991 ISBN 0-330-30936-9
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
[197] Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989 ISBN 0-304-31089-1
A handy little booklet from the R.H.S.
[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.
[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
[268] Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.
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