Galium odoratum 'Sweet Woodruff'

[Ex. Co. Durham, England]

Rubiaceae: upright, hairless, square-stemmed perennial to 25cm. found in shady woodlands, mostly on calcareous soils, the plant spreads and forms carpets in suitable locations. Whole plant smells of hay. The small white flowers bloom from May-June. The seeds are nutlets with hooked bristles. The leaves are lanceolate, in whorls of 6-8. Locally common in Britain, except in the North. Native to Northern and central Europe, including Britain, south and east to North Africa and Siberia.

USES:

The leaves are used raw or cooked. The leaves are coumarin-scented (like freshly mown hay), they are used as a flavouring in cooling drinks, and are also added to fruit salads. The leaves are soaked in white wine to make 'Maitrank', an aromatic tonic drink that is made in Alsace. A fragrant and delicious tea is made from the green-dried leaves and flowers. Slightly wilted leaves are used, the tea has a fresh, grassy flavour. The sweet-scented flowers are eaten or used as a garnish.

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. In current day herbalism it is valued mainly for its tonic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory affect. The leaves have antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative properties.

GROWING INFORMATION:

Seeds are best sown in situ as soon as it is ripe in late summer. But for stored The seed, it should be sown in late winter-early spring though it may be very, very slow to germinate. A period of cold stratification helps reduce the germination time [seeds need to freeze and thaw a few times]. Lots of leafmold in the soil and the shade of trees also seems to improve germination rates.

A good ground cover plant, grows well in rock gardens and woodland gardens. Prefers a loose moist leafy soil in some shade, but dislikes very acid soils. A very ornamental plant and very easy to grow once germinated.

HARVESTED: 

 

APPROX. 20 SEEDS