Plant Spotlight: Galium odoratum

What It Is

Sweet woodruff, Galium odoratum,  is a spreading groundcover native throughout Europe. As its name suggests, it is a sweet-smelling plant found primarily in woodlands. The scent grows stronger when dried, which has made sweet woodruff a popular potpourri for centuries. Its leaves were traditionally used as an herbal remedy for a variety of ailments, and it is still used as a flavoring in some European products.

Sweet woodruff's foliage will lighten in part to full sun.

Why to Grow It

Sweet woodruff is a fragrant, delicate groundcover for shady areas, and it requires very little maintenance. Although sweet woodruff will spread indefinitely under the right conditions, it is generally not considered invasive in the Inland Northwest. It responds well to control measures, unlike some popular groundcover options. In addition to being an attractive addition to the landscape, sweet woodruff can be harvested and dried to bring its fragrance indoors.

Where to Put It

Galium odoratum thrives in damp shade, to the point that it will easily naturalize in those conditions. This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your setting and needs. Its growth is more restrained in dry shade, and it can even tolerate full sun, though it may go dormant in the summer without some shade. Deep shade will also intensify the dark green color of sweet woodruff’s leaves.

Plant Spotlight: Bleeding Heart

What It Is

Bleeding heart is a shade-loving perennial that originated in Asia. Although it is now classified as Lamprocapnos spectabilis, it is still commonly referred to by its former genus of Dicentra. It is named for the shape of its flowers, which feature inner drop-shaped petals protruding from the main heart-shaped pair. Bleeding heart blooms in springs, with its distinctive flowers arranged along delicate arched stems. In the Inland Northwest climate, the whole plant often goes dormant in the summer, with its foliage dying back to the ground.

Bleeding heart gets its name from the heart-shaped flowers.

Why to Grow It

Bleeding heart tends to be very low-maintenance if planted in the right conditions. In addition to its high shade-tolerance, bleeding heart is also quite deer-resistant, a combination which makes it an excellent choice for wooded landscapes. Its springtime blooms add early color to the landscape, and their unique shape makes bleeding heart a striking cut flower.

Where to Put It

Bleeding heart does well in full shade, but some morning sun will improve flowering. Consistently moist, well-drained soil is also important, or the plant will go dormant. While bleeding heart starts as a small plant, over time it can grow to three feet wide and tall. Because it goes completely dormant in the winter, it is an excellent choice under roof driplines, where falling snow might crush other plants. And since it also typically goes dormant in the summer, it is best to locate it with other shade plants like hostas or columbine, which fill out later in the season.

Plant Spotlight: Tsuga Heterophylla

What it Is

Western hemlock's delicate evergreen foliage provides interest throughout the winter.

Western hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla, is the state tree of Washington, where it mostly grows in the Cascades and the Olympic Peninsula. It prefers shady, moist conditions and is not found native in Spokane County, but it does grow throughout the Idaho Panhandle. Trees in the wild can grow to 100’ high and 30’ wide, but are smaller in cultivation.

Why to Grow It

Western hemlock is an attractive conifer tree for shady spaces. Its small needles and cones offer delicate evergreen interest, and it is a good tree for attracting birds. There are only a few cultivars cultivars available currently, but Tsuga heterophylla’s superior resistance to the hemlock woolly adelgid makes it a more reliable choice than the widely grown Tsuga canadensis. The insect is steadily devastating hemlock populations throughout the Eastern US, but western hemlocks do not show the same mortality when infested.  

Where to Put It

At least partial shade is necessary for the western hemlock in the Spokane/Coeur D’Alene region, where our hot, dry summers can stress the tree. Northern and eastern exposures are preferred, and Tsuga heterophylla does well in moist soil, as long as it is well-draining. The lacy, evergreen foliage is a great addition to a woodland or shade garden. Its soft needles won’t poke or jab like many other conifers, making it a suitable choice next to patios or pathways, where people might brush against it.