Home Plants 9 Sweet Woodruff Companion Plants to Get for Your Garden

9 Sweet Woodruff Companion Plants to Get for Your Garden

The sweet woodruff companion plants can be grown together to the benefit of one or of the plants that are involved – such as ivy, columbine, and brunnera. On its own, the sweet woodruff, also known as the Galium odoratum or Asperula odorata, has natural insect-repellent properties that give it the ability to protect other plants from pests such as aphids.

It is important to know the plants that you can safely grow together with this plant. This article will provide information on the Galium odoratum companion plants.

Contents

The Best Choices for Sweet Woodruff Companion Plants
Conclusion
References

The Best Choices for Sweet Woodruff Companion Plants

The sweet woodruff companion plants include but are not limited to the hosta, ivy, astilbe, ferns, columbine, brunnera, hellebore, and snowdrop anemone.

In this section, we will highlight some of the uses, benefits, unique characteristics, and care requirements of these plants. This will help you to make well-informed choices on which plants you should grow alongside your sweet woodruff companion plants.

1. Ivy

Benefits	Can purify the air Reduces inflammation Helps to manage coughs that are caused by viral infections and colds
Uses	Decoctions are used for dealing with sunburns, lice, and scabies Used in traditional medicine to manage whooping cough, dysentery, and arthritis Can be applied to reduce wrinkles and lowering facial tension
Distinguishing characteristics	Leaves are usually juvenile and lobed, with light veins and a dull green color Leaves become unlobed and assume glossy green color as they mature Produces clusters of greenish, umbrella-shaped flowers, which later develop into berry-like fruits
Care	Irrigate when the upper two inches of the plant soil get dry Loves high humidity conditions so mist on a daily basis Soils should be well-draining and relatively water-retaining, but not soggy

The ivy is mildly toxic to humans and causes an upset stomach if consumed so keep your children away from the reach of his plant as much as possible. It is also toxic to horses, cats, and dogs, but not livestock or birds.

It’s also vital to note that some ivy plants cause skin irritation if you touch them so we recommend that you always wear gloves and other protective clothing when handling these plants.

2. Columbine

Benefits	Leaves and stems are used to make medicine Can help to manage skin problems Root decoction halts diarrhea
Uses	Used to treat gallbladder issues and stomach-related discrepancies Used to treat scurvy, which is caused by the deficiency of Vitamin C Can treat jaundice, which is a condition of yellowed skin
Distinguishing characteristics	Produces bright;y colored, five-petaled flowers that have long spurs that extend backward Its compound leaves have leaflets that are rounded and notched.
Care	Make sure the upper one or two inches of the topsoil are completely dry before your next watering session Soils should be preferably moist, but never waterlogged and soggy Prefers the full sun or a light shade

The columbine falls under the buttercup family, which is botanically known as the Ranunculaceae family. They are native plants to northern America. This plant is relatively slow-growing, considering that it takes about two years before you can enjoy its first blooms. Each bloom remains for not less than four weeks.

3. Snowdrop Anemone

Benefits	Provided good groundcover Cut flowers remain fresh for longer in bouquets It’s an easy-grow plant
Uses	Used for borders and is great in mass plantings Attracts pollinators, including bees
Distinguishing characteristics	Blooms between late spring and early summer, producing fragrant flowers that are cup-shaped and white in color Has dark green foliage Grows to a height of between 12 and 18 inches, and a width of approximately 12 inches
Care	Prefers well-draining soils that are moist but not soggy Partial or full shade is more ideal so you can grow it in a shade garden Add a slow-release feen during spring

The snowdrop anemone is also called the windflower. This plant is a perennial and is a perfect choice for a woodland garden. This plant, which belongs to the Ranunculaceae family, is native to central and western Europe.

4. Brunnera

Benefits	Easy to grow Have a great decorating acumen
Uses	Used as spreading ground cover Used as specimen plant Can be clumped together to create borders
Distinguishing characteristics	Has small flowers that are dominantly blue in color, but have white centers Have slender stems Has hairy, heart-shaped leaves
Care	Prefers soils that are well draining and slightly moisture-retaining, but avoid waterlogged conditions at all costs Check for and prune off brown leaves from the plant on a regular basis as these diverts the plant’s resources Divide the plant after every two or three years

This plant is a rhizomatous perennial that grows at a very slow pace and it grows best in woodland areas. The plant is sometimes referred to as the Siberian bugloss. It is possible to grow the brunnera in garden soil or even in containers.

5. Astilbe

Benefits	Are low-maintenance flowers Can treat headaches
Uses	Traditionally used to address issues such as diarrhea, inflammation, body pain, and dysentery Used to make the neglected regions of your yard appear brighter and better
Distinguishing characteristics	Has two to three compound leaves and leaflets that are sharply toothed Has upright stems Produces densely-packed, feathery flowers that have pink, deep red, violet, white, or lavender colors
Care	Require moisture-retaining soils because they don’t tolerate dry soils, but sogginess is not an option, either Soils should be fertile and slightly acidic Deeply water at least once every week

Astilbe flowers are symbolic of patience and dedication to the people you love. This belief is not related to the colors of the flowers but astilbe blooms in general.

Another piece of good news about the astilbe plant is that it is not toxic so you can have peace of mind as you grow it when you have pets and young children. Moreover, the pink and purple shades of this nectar-producing plant attract butterflies and dragonflies.

6. Hellebore

Benefits	Are less demanding so they are easy to grow White hellebore is used to manage gout, choler, and high blood pressure
Uses	Was used as an arrow-tip poison Can stimulate menstruation
Distinguishing characteristics	Has rose-like flowers that are cup-shaped Flowers have yellow stamens at the center Have divided leaves that attached to sturdy stems
Care	Prefers partial or full shade Soils should be soil, well-draining, and nutrient-rich, with a neutral pH Prune off the foliage from the previous year at the end of the flowering season to prevent nurturing the leaf spot disease

The hellebore perennial is a member of the Ranunculaceae family of plants. It is native to Europe and Asia. The varieties of hellebores include black hellebore, hellebore cilantro, Anna’s red hellebore, and helleborus winter jewel.

This plant can be toxic to both humans and pets, which is why you should make sure it is out of reach of vulnerable candidates.

7. Hosta

Benefits	Has anti-inflammatory properties Has analgesic attributes
Uses	Used to add elegance to a dull and shady yard Leaves that are just a couple of days old can be eaten Used as colorful garnishes in food
Distinguishing characteristics	Has ribbed leaves that are clustered at the base of the plant’s stem Flowers are tubular and bluish and white in color The flowers are directly attached to the stalks that protrude from the leaves
Care	Ensure that the soil is moist but avoid waterlogged conditions Prefers light shade Temperatures should range from 33 to 41 degrees Fahrenheit

This plant is native to northeast Asia and is categorized under the Asparagaceae family. If you have cats and dogs in your home, it is important to note that the hosta is toxic to these animals so extra caution should be taken.

If you spray the plant with lemon juice, your dogs and cats are less likely to accidentally munch on its parts.

8. Ferns

Benefits	Are a good biofertilizer Can remediate soils that are contaminated Can remove chemical substances that pollute the air
Uses	Used as food Used as a medicine for treating certain ailments Used as ornamental plants
Distinguishing characteristics	Have stems, leaves, and roots like flowering plants Do not produce flowers and seeds Can reproduce sexually through spores or asexually
Care	A well-draining potting medium is an idea, to avoid letting the plant sit in water Requires bright, indirect sunlight Mist regularly to maintain high levels of humidity as preferred by the plant

The most interesting fact about ferns is that, unlike other vascular plants, they reproduce through spores. Their leaves, called fronds, appear feather-like. Ferns have adventitious roots, meaning that their roots are directly connected to an organ, in this case, the stem.

9. Bleeding Heart

Benefits	Can calm the nervous system Used to treat toothache
Uses	Used to manage the pain from bruises Used as a remedy for hair that does not grow
Distinguishing characteristics	Blooms in summer to produce heart-shaped flowers that are white or pink in color Can grow up to a height of three feet Leaves are dark green
Care	The soil should be humus-rich, well-draining, and moist Loves shady areas

The bleeding heart plant is also called the lady-in-a-bath or lyre flower. This plant has its origins in eastern Asia and northern America. Avoid consuming and touching the bleeding heart plant because all its parts are toxic.

Conclusion

Growing sweet woodruff plants is mainly feasible through sweet woodruff seeds or sweet woodruff cuttings, and once you have your plants, you now have a solid idea as to which plants you can grow together with them.

Here are some highlights of what we discussed in this article:

Sweet woodruff companion plants include the hosta, astilbe, columbine, ivy, bleeding heart, and brunnera.
Most of the plants love moisture but are sensitive to waterlogged conditions.
The uses of the companion plants of the sweet woodruff range from ornamental to medicinal.

Planting sweet woodruff plants can be more fun than you can imagine as you might have attested as you went through this article. Select the right companion plants and enjoy the escapade!

References

https://kingcounty.gov/services/environment/animals-and-plants/noxious-weeds/weed-identification/english-ivy.aspx

https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/ferns/what.shtml

https://www.biologydiscussion.com/plants/plant-kingdom/essential-features-of-ferns-plant-kingdom/52174

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