Sweet Woodruff (Waldmeister) is a pro at spreading on its own in the wild. But if you want to get a head start or move it to a specific spot in your garden or a container, there are a few easy ways to help it along. Here’s the lowdown on the best ways to propagate your Sweet Woodruff.
Sweet Woodruff: The Natural Spreader
In its natural habitat, wild Sweet Woodruff is a self-sufficient groundcover. It spreads effortlessly through self-seeding and underground runners, often carpeting entire forest floors. If you have it in your garden, it’ll likely do the same. If you want it to keep spreading naturally, just make sure to leave plenty of stems behind when you’re harvesting so the plant can drop its seeds for next year.
Taking Control: Propagation Methods
If you want to be a bit more intentional with your garden or potted plants, you’ve got two main options:
- Growing from seed
- Dividing existing plants
Propagating Sweet Woodruff from Seed
Even though it seeds itself, you might want to step in if you’re starting a new patch or if your current plants aren’t spreading as fast as you’d like. You can either collect seeds from existing plants or grab a packet at your local garden center.
The big secret? Plant them in the fall. Sweet Woodruff seeds are “cold germinators,” meaning they actually need a period of frost and chilly temperatures to wake up and grow. It’s best to sow them directly into the garden or your chosen pot. I wouldn’t recommend starting them in tiny seed trays and transplanting them later—their roots are super delicate and don’t handle being moved very well.
Just pick a shady spot, tuck the seeds about half an inch (one centimeter) into the soil, and keep the area nice and moist. You should see the first little sprouts popping up within a few weeks.
Propagating Sweet Woodruff by Division
Another great way to get more plants is by division. Since Sweet Woodruff grows via runners, it’s pretty easy to split one plant into several smaller ones and move them to new homes. This is also a perfect solution if your woodruff has turned into a thick, unruly carpet and needs a little thinning out. Just dig up a clump, gently divide it, and replant. Just a heads-up: be as gentle as possible with those fine roots to make sure they take hold in their new spot!
