SWEET WOODRUFF
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SWEET WOODRUFF
(Plant heights are given at maturity)
Sweet Woodruff, Wild Baby's Breath, Master of the Woodland
A low growing herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Rubiaceae
family. Strongly scented, they are loved by bees and butterflies
and are excellent plants for the perennial bed or rock garden.
The scent remains when the plant is dried, making it useful in
potpourri. An added benefit in many areas is that deer do not
like it and will leave it alone.
Galium thrives in a rich, well drained laomy soil in a shady
location. They are easily propagated by means of division or
sowing seed. Seed should be sown in pots or trays in spring, then
the seedlings set out in the garden when all danger of frost has
passed. Spacing should be 9-12 inches each way.
Galiums strong scent is due to the presence of coumarin, a fragrant
chemical found in many plants with the scent of vanilla and fresh
hay. The leaves are crushed and added to drinks, such as Maybowl,
a German punch. The
leaves are also ground and added to sausage, jams and jellies.
Medicinally, Galium has been used to treat wounds, and to treat
digestive problems, insomnia, tension, and hepatitis and are used to
treat
migraine and stomach pain. Coumarin has a blood thinning action,
so caution should be used by those already taking blood thinning
drugs. The leaves are also dried and used to brew a mildly
sedative tea.
Sweet
Woodruff
(Waldmeister) Galium odoratum (syn.
Asperula odorata) -
Creeping
perennial with angled stems and whorled vanilla-scented
leaves.
Partial shade to Full shade; height: 12in.
| #1337 Packet $4.50
Approximately 30 seeds |
|
| #Lg1337 Large Packet $17.50
Approximately 500 seeds |
|
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