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Sweet woodruff – Galium odoratum

Sweet woodruff

Galium odoratum
Edible value5Medicinal value5Other uses5
perennial0.2×1.5 mzone 5–8full shade

Will it grow where I live?

Sweet woodruff is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family
Rubiaceae
Habit
perennial
Height
0.2 m
Spread
1.5 m
Growth
medium
Lifespan
15 years
First yield
after 2 years
Hardiness
zone 5–8
Shade tolerance
full shade
Soil
Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture
semi-dry – very moist
pH
5.5 – 7.5

Uses

Edible5 of 10
Medicinal5 of 10
Other uses5 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Sweet woodruff: how big does it get?

Sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) grows as a perennial and reaches roughly 0.2 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 1.5 m. Growth is medium.

Sweet woodruff: what site does it need?

Sweet woodruff tolerates full shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.

Sweet woodruff: is it hardy?

Sweet woodruff is listed as hardy in zone 5–8 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Sweet woodruff: will it grow in Central Europe?

Sweet woodruff is hardy to zone 5 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 5 upwards.

Sweet woodruff: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Sweet woodruff. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Sweet woodruff: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 5/10, Other uses 5/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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