The woodruff is best known for its characteristic taste, which is used in many foods. The flower is also a visually attractive harbinger of spring in the garden bed or in the pot.
What is the woodruff flower known for and how is it used?
The woodruff flower is an attractive spring-flowering plant that grows in the garden as a ground cover and thrives particularly well in the shade. It is used as a natural medicine and flavoring agent in products such as medicinal teas, May punch and woodruff lemonade, but should not be consumed too frequently due to the coumarin content.
The woodruff as a flower in the garden
As a garden plant, the woodruff falls into the category of ground cover due to its low growth height and the way it reproduces via root runners. However, the right location is necessary for it to thrive. Woodruff grows very well in shady to semi-shady places in the garden, which can also be covered by deciduous trees. But this is practical because only a few flowering plants can flower as well in total shade as the woodruff. In addition, the woodruff, with its flowering period from April to May or June, is one of the first plants, along with lily of the valley and wild garlic, to brighten up the green in the garden with delicate white flowers after the snow cover melts.
The use of the flower as a flavoring and natural medicine
The flowering plant is harvested in spring for use as an aromatic medicinal herb. It is a good idea if you let the cut woodruff wilt slightly in a well-ventilated place for one night before further processing, as the aroma in the flowers and stems will then increase even further. It can then be scalded with hot water to produce products such as:
- Medicinal teas
- Maibowle
- Waldmeister lemonade
You should only scald the woodruff and not let it steep in hot water, otherwise its dosage will accumulate too much in the water.
Tips & Tricks
Since woodruff contains a certain amount of the active ingredient coumarin, it should not be enjoyed too regularly and should be used for children's lemonades. Although the coumarin can relieve headaches in small doses, these can also occur with an overdose. Liver damage is also possible if consumed in excess.
