Galium odoratum
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- GAL-ee-um oh-dor-AY-tum
- Description
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Low maintenance, herbaceous perennial groundcover blooms in the spring.
Useful in herb gardens, rock gardens, naturalized areas, shady borders or as a ground cover or edging plant. They tolerate heavy shade and even being planted near black walnuts. Can be somewhat aggressive under optimal growing conditions. Plants can be mowed with a rotary mower set high if necessary to maintain growth.
Lance-shaped dark green leaves form whorls of 6-8 around, squarish stems. The leaves smell like freshly mowed hay when crushed. The aromatic properties increase when the leaves are dried so they are often used in potpourri or sachets. This plant has been used commercially in perfumes. The white flowers are showy, fragrant and edible. They have a sweet, nutty, vanilla flavor. Flowers can have a blood-thinning effect if eaten in large amounts.
Play Value: Wildlife Enhancement
Notes: Potentially invasive
Covered in hooked bristles in summer
Seed: Capsule
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Galium
- Species:
- odoratum
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Play Value:
- Fragrance
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Ground Cover
- Herb
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- Fruit is covered in Hooked Bristles
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are fragrant when crushed.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
