Sweet woodruff is native to our neck of the woods, which means it’s naturally winter-hardy. You’ve probably seen those lush green carpets covering forest floors year after year—that’s proof enough of how tough this little plant is! Generally speaking, sweet woodruff doesn’t need much help to survive the cold, but there are a few specific situations where a little extra TLC goes a long way.
Sweet Woodruff is a Winter Warrior
Wild sweet woodruff is completely winter-hardy. It breezes through even the harshest winters and bounces back every spring with a fresh blanket of white blossoms. As long as you don’t harvest the entire plant, it functions as a reliable perennial, repeating its growth cycle year after year.
When to Offer a Little Extra Protection
If your sweet woodruff is growing wild or is well-established in your garden beds, you can usually just let it be. Its roots are robust and built for the cold. However, you might want to step in if:
- You’re growing it in containers.
- You’ve just recently sown seeds or transplanted young plants.
Potted Sweet Woodruff
If you’re growing your sweet woodruff in a pot, it’s usually fine to leave it out on the balcony or patio all winter. The catch? Pots have much less soil than the ground, which means the root ball can freeze through much faster, potentially damaging the plant.
To keep your potted plants happy, give them a little insulation. Place the pot on an insulated base (like wood or polystyrene) and wrap the container in garden fleece or burlap to keep those roots cozy.
Young Plants and Seedlings
Sweet woodruff is a “frost germinator,” meaning the seeds actually need the cold to wake up and start growing. So, don’t worry about the seeds freezing—they love it! However, if you’ve just transplanted young starts right before the first frost, their roots are still delicate. In this case, a light mulch of leaves, brush, or evergreen branches will protect them and provide some nice nutrients as they settle in.
Winter Maintenance Tips
Even in the winter, sweet woodruff needs to stay hydrated. If the weather is dry and there’s no snow or rain, make sure to give it a drink occasionally. This is especially important for potted plants, which dry out faster than the ground. You can skip the fertilizer, though—the plant is resting and doesn’t need the extra food until spring!
