Although a useful herb of longstanding, sweet woodruff gets short shrift because its greatest fame is derived from its historical addition to May wine or punch, often with Rhine wine and Champagne. As this use has become less widespread, sweet woodruff has become better known as a spring-blooming groundcover.
Smelling of a mixture of sweet hay and cinnamon, particularly when dried, it has a number of household, aromatic, and medicinal uses.
Sweet Woodruff is a hardy perennial that likes a semi-shady spot that’s protected from the sun during the hottest part of the day. Shallow rooted and preferring rich, porous soil, it’s is a good choice near trees, or in problem areas where there are tree roots or other obstructions, like rocks, close to the surface of the soil. It likes moist conditions, and given enough water will fill in nicely to a height of about eight inches. If it starts to wilt, provide mulch and additional water. Sweet woodruff is not well suited to growing indoors.
Distinctive for its shiny green leaves that grow in circular clusters that look like a ruff along its slender square stem, woodruff has brilliant white flowers and can easily be propagated by division. A fast grower in all but the hottest climates, a healthy patch of woodruff will yield many plants. Seeds can be germinated in late summer and transplanted the following spring. New plants should be separated to eight inches apart and will fill in over a season to create a dense, bright green mat.
A natural insect repellent, woodruff does well around roses and peonies if kept away from their stems. It is also effective indoors when dried and placed under carpets, in pet bedding, and in your linen closet. Sweet woodruff works as an inexpensive fixative and fragrance enhancer in potpourri. It is also reputed to help heal minor wounds, and makes a refreshing tea that can sooth an upset stomach, although these historical medical claims have not been substantiated.
When you’re thinking about your plant needs this season, consider this small and charming addition to your landscape. In an herb garden, a shady spot near a tree, along your rose border, or near your backyard faucet, woodruff asks little but gives back good color and a delicate appearance. Whether you are looking for hardy groundcover, coverage for a shady spot, or natural pest control, sweet woodruff has a great deal to offer.
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