Woodruff - Galium odoratum

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Alternative names
Sweet Woodruff
Description

A spreading, mat forming almost hairless plant with numerous stolons. Stems square, erect with a ring of hairs at each node. Leaves elliptical in whorls of 6 to 9 edged with tiny forward pointing prickles. Flowers white, 4 to 7 mm in lax heads.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Deciduous woodland and shady places.

When to see it

Late April to June.

Life History

Perennial.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in suitable locations throughout most of Britain.

VC55 Status

Locally frequent in woodland in Leicestershire and Rutland. In the 1979 Flora survey of Leicestershire it was found in 42 of the 617 tetrads.

  • Alan Semper
    Harby garden
    15 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Wood
    12 April 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common and Woods
    26 April 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    24 April 2014
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common and Woods
    26 April 2014

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species data profile ?

Species profile

Common names
Sweet Woodruff, Woodruff
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Gentianales
Family:
Rubiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
79
First record:
11/04/2011 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
06/05/2025 (Bell, Melinda)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.

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Latest images

Latest records

  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Common and Woods
    26 April 2014
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    12 April 2011
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    16 May 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    11 April 2011
  • Alan Semper
    Harby garden
    15 May 2012
  • David Nicholls
    Cloud Wood
    24 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Cloud Wood
    24 June 2011
  • David Nicholls
    Burbage Wood
    07 November 2013
  • Graham Calow
    Burbage Common and Woods
    24 April 2014