Pollinator plant

Sweet Woodruff

Galium odoratum

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Common names

38 names · 28 languages
EnglishYour language
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Other languages (27)
Dutch
French
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Belarusian
  • Маруна пахучая[3]
Catalan
  • Reina dels boscos[3]
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 车轴草[3]
  • 香猪殃殃[3]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 香豬殃殃[3]
Czech
  • svízel vonný[3]
Danish
  • Skovmærke[3]
Estonian
  • lõhnav madar[3]
  • lõhnav varjulill[3]
Finnish
  • tuoksumatara[3]
German
Hungarian
  • Szagos müge[3]
Italian
Japanese
  • クルマバソウ[3]
Korean
Latvian
  • Smaržīgā madara[3]
Lithuanian
  • Kvapusis lipikas[3]
Norwegian
Polish
  • marzanka wonna[3]
  • przytulia wonna[3]
Portuguese
Russian
  • Подмаренник душистый[3]
  • Ясменник душистый[3]
Slovak
  • lipkavec marinkový[3]
Slovenian
  • Dišeča lakota[3]
Swedish
Turkish
  • Orman İplikçiği[3]
Ukrainian
  • Підмаренник запашний[3]
Welsh
  • Briwydd bêr[3]
Sources & name notes (5)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Galium odoratum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Woodruff — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Waldmeister — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Sweet Woodruff — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Aspérule odorante — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Gaillet odorant — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Petit Muguet — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Reine-des-bois — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Caglio odoroso — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Lievevrouwebedstro — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Aspérula-odorífera — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Galium odoratum ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Woodruff — VernacularName.tsv, line 156073; taxon 3F66X.
  • Waldmeister (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 156072; taxon 3F66X.
  • Sweetscented Bedstraw (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 156071; taxon 3F66X.
[3] Galium odoratum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • Woodruff — results[22].names[5]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Waldmeister — results[22].names[3]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Sweet Woodruff — results[22].names[1]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Aspérule odorante — results[22].names[8]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Gaillet odorant — results[22].names[7]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Petit Muguet — results[22].names[9]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Reine-des-bois — results[22].names[10]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Caglio odoroso — results[22].names[21]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Lievevrouwebedstro — results[22].names[2]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Aspérula-odorífera — results[22].names[24]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Myskmadra — results[22].names[4]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • svízel vonný — results[22].names[11]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • przytulia wonna — results[22].names[12]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • marzanka wonna — results[22].names[13]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Skovmærke — results[22].names[14]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • lõhnav madar — results[22].names[15]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • lõhnav varjulill — results[22].names[16]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Подмаренник душистый — results[22].names[17]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • クルマバソウ — results[22].names[18]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • myske — results[22].names[19]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Szagos müge — results[22].names[20]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • tuoksumatara — results[22].names[22]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Kvapusis lipikas — results[22].names[23]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • lipkavec marinkový — results[22].names[25]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • 车轴草 — results[22].names[26]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Reina dels boscos — results[22].names[27]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Підмаренник запашний — results[22].names[28]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Маруна пахучая — results[22].names[29]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • 香豬殃殃 — results[22].names[30]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • 香猪殃殃 — results[22].names[31]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Dišeča lakota — results[22].names[32]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Ясменник душистый — results[22].names[33]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Smaržīgā madara — results[22].names[34]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Briwydd bêr — results[22].names[35]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • Orman İplikçiği — results[22].names[36]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
  • 선갈퀴 — results[22].names[37]; taxon id 56065; Galium odoratum.
[4] Galium odoratum — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sweet Scented Bed Straw — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Galium odoratum.
  • Sweet Woodruff — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Galium odoratum.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • sweet woodruff — Page 2, column 2, row top 232 pt; common-name cell after Galium odoratum.; Galium odoratum.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Galium odoratum is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rubiaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Mature height
0.15–0.3 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [2]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Growth rate
Medium

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Moisture and drainage
Good Drainage; Moist

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil texture
Clay; High Organic Matter; Sand

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)

NC State Extension profile. These source categories do not certify the catalogue’s numeric pH interval.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
North Africa, Asia, Europe

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Galium odoratum in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Low
Plant profile

About this plant

Woodruff (Galium odoratum) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from May to June.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Galium odoratum — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 245943; ID 3F66X; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 245943; ID 3F66X; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Galium odoratum — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadLife cycleGrowth rateFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureSoil pHFlowering seasonNative range
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Growth rate: Growth Rate
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Galium odoratum (top 232 pt)

    Source checked on .