Commonly known as sweet woodruff, hay plant, kiss-me-quick, mugwet, rockweed, sweet grass, woodruff, bedstraw, sweet-scented bedstraw, May grass, our lady's lace, sweet white woodruff or Waldmeister (“Master of the Forest”), this species has more common names than a three-toed sloth has toes (and begs the question as to why they aren't called twelve-toed sloths).
As you might have discerned from the common names, it is indeed sweetly-scented, and laced with the smell of fresh-mown hay. I had recently read that it has edible flowers (with a taste of “sweet, nutty, vanilla”), so I tried some yesterday – I'll stick to eating sweets, nuts and vanilla.
You can learn more about this plant in the garden here: Galium odoratum via the Missouri Botanical Garden's Kemper Center for Home Gardening.
Keeping count? This is the 400th Botany Photo of the Day.
Agriculture resource link: Fruit Facts is a great site to learn about tropical and subtropical fruits.
Galium odoratum - Z5 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Congratulations! And, how fortunate for us!
I recently shared your site with a new young colleague in the biology department; thank you for adding even more possibilities for our students' improved educational opportunities.
Hello Daniel, I stumbled across your website several months ago and open your Botany Photo each day before anyone else's... It usually brings a smile to my face when I see these beautiful photos. Woodruff is also used for a wine served in Germany in May. I was born and lived in Germany until I was an adult so "Waldmeister" has brought back fond memories.
Thanks all!