Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Galium odoratum - sweet woodruff

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants
I bought one today. Some sites say it's invasive but is it controllable ie does it have deep roots or self-seed all over the place?

In London. Keen but lazy.

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    It's a woodland plant - it can cover clear ground very quickly, but does not compete well with strong opposition. From having taken over a whole bed, mine is now peeking out here and there between hearty clumps of grass. It's an area waiting to be cleared, but a non-essential one so it's been a long wait. Hoping to get to it this autumn or in spring!
    I want to rescue it and move it to the edge of the Dell, where it can run happily under the trees.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Strong opposition from me or from plants? @Buttercupdays
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I find it well-behaved.
    I first noticed a small patch a few years ago. I hadn't planted it and almost mistook it for cleavers and was about to pull it out when I had a 2nd think.
    From a tiny patch about 3 years ago it's now spread about 2ft - it's easy just to pull bits out from the edge if it starts creeping in the wrong direction.
    It's close to a geranium Rozanne, so the woodruff looks fresh and white in the spring, then Rozanne smothers it for the rest of the season.
    Seems to work well

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    Thanks Pete. I wondered about mixing it up with cleavers. I'll have to feel the leaves before I pull ;)
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    It's absolutely brilliant in dry shade ... it spreads, but gently ... in a controllable way ... and in the spring you can make Maibowle ... 

    https://germanfoods.org/recipe/green-maibowle/

    and invite all your friends around to celebrate the spring  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    That's the kind if recipe I like, Dove!
    Dry partial shade was where I wanted to put it so that's good news. I'll keep it watered until it can fend for itself.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    I love it. Drought tolerant, grows anywhere, lovely white flowers and you can eat it. I find it comes out easily. If you had a whole woodland of it to clear (like wild garlic) then, yes, it might be a pain.
Sign In or Register to comment.