sweet woodruff

noun

: a small Eurasian and North African sweet-scented herb (Galium odoratum synonym Asperula odorata) of the madder family that has small white flowers and is used especially in perfumery and for flavoring wine

Examples of sweet woodruff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Review some options with them for replacing this plant with other low-growing flowering woodland plants (sweet woodruff or myrtle) that won’t create problems. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023 Low-growing plants often used as ground covers include Canadian wild-ginger, sweet woodruff, bishop’s wort (Epimedium) and spotted dead-nettle (Lamium maculatum). Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2022 Some ideas include sweet woodruff, hostas, ferns, bleeding heart, rhododendron, wild geranium, violets, trillium and hardy cyclamen. oregonlive, 24 July 2021 Hostas and ferns are popular choices, along with lungwort (Pulmonaria), Siberian bugloss (Brunnera), Canadian wild ginger (Asarum canadense), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and bishop’s hat (Epimedium). Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 28 Aug. 2019 There really is quite a selection of plants that will work in your situation: sweet woodruff, hostas, ferns, bleeding heart, rhododendron, hydrangea, wild geranium, violets, trillium, hardy cyclamen. oregonlive.com, 8 June 2019 Other perennials, bulbs and ground covers: Bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis); sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum); snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis); hellebore (Helleborus); barrenwort (Epimedium); daylily (Hemerocallis); daffodil (Narcissus). Beth Botts, chicagotribune.com, 20 June 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sweet woodruff.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sweet woodruff was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near sweet woodruff

Cite this Entry

“Sweet woodruff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sweet%20woodruff. Accessed 8 Oct. 2024.

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