Sweet Woodruff (Lus moileas)

This carpeting wildflower can be found in mature woodlands and other damp, sheltered places. Native throughout Europe, it was once used to flavour beer and its wonderful scent reminiscent of fresh hay and vanilla was a popular choice in potpourri or indeed in the linen closet – you’ll need to pick it to smell it. Classed as an edible wildflower, Galium Odoratum has both culinary and medicinal properties. This is a low-growing plant and therefore a great groundcover, with whorls of narrow, pointy leaves on square stems, bearing loose heads of tiny white star-shaped flowers in May and June, which, together with its carpet-forming habit, will turn any woodland into a fairytale.

Site: Sheltered
Soil: Any moist but well-drained
Position: Part shade, dappled shade
Season of Interest: Perennial, carpet-forming; white flowers; aromatic when picked
Hardiness: Hardy
Height: 3-9in (10-25cm) Spread: 3-5ft (1-1.5m)