While woodruff is known to many as a flavoring agent, few recognize it in the wild. The delicate blossom also makes the medicinal herb a rewarding flowering plant in the garden.
The ideal time for collecting woodruff
The easiest way to identify and collect woodruff in the forest is during the flowering period from April. The ground-covering plant usually occurs in mass populations due to the propagation via root suckers. Depending on the location, these bear their cross-shaped, white flowers until May or June.
The use of woodruff
Woodruff was formerly used for the following purposes:
- for flavoring lemonades
- for the production of the traditional May punch
- as a natural medicine for humans and animals
Because of the flowering time, woodruff is sometimes also referred to as May herb. Nowadays, it can no longer be used to make lemonade because of the coumarin it contains, which can be harmful if consumed in excess.
tips and tricks
Take a close look at the small blossoms of the woodruff: They are said to have served as a model for the white cross on the Swiss flag.
WK