General: Native perennial groundcover with exquisite, dark green foliage and sweet-scented white spring blooms. Sweet Woodruff is easy to grow in most garden soils, provided ample moisture and part to full shade.

Culinary Uses: This plant happens to be one of the best known ingredients in German May wine which is traditionally drunk on May day, both to welcome the season and as a spring tonic. Since the Middle Ages it has been used to flavor wines, brandies, and other beverages, jellies, sorbets, and fruit salads.

Medicinal Uses: Sweet Woodruff has been used to treat kidney disorders, liver problems, uterine cramps and problems of menopause, nervousness, dropsy, varicose veins, poor digestion, and heart irregularities, and was added to other medicines to improve their flavor.

Ornamental Uses: Sweet Woodruff has fragrant, lance shaped dark green leaves and small fragrant, 4 petaled, white flowers. The plant emits a strong odor of freshly mowed hay when the foliage is crushed or cut.