Habitat
Type: open woods, old, shady cottage gardens, see Note below
Distribution: throughout northern hemisphere
Prefers: alkaline soil, shade
Other: patch forming

General
Growth type: herb
Cycle: perennial
Height: up to 20 cm
Other: delicate, unbranched, smell of fresh-mown hay

Leaf
Shape: lanceolate
Texture: shiny
Arrangement: whorl of 6-9 leaves

Flower
Diameter: tiny
Arrangement: loose clusters at top of stem
When: May to June
Colour:

Contains coumarin, especially when dried. Coumarin is a moderate kidney and liver toxin. It can cause headaches and suppress appetite. Coumarin is transformed by certain fungi into an anti-coagulant. Avoid if on drugs for circulatory conditions. Consume in moderation. For beverages it is best not to use more than three plants per litre.

Smells of fresh cut hay.

April to June - best April and early May
all year

Parts with black and white icons are for non-culinary use

Flavour
Rating and Description:
sweet aroma, with scent of fresh-mown hay

How to Consume
raw, tea

Used as ...
beverage, flavouring

Action:
anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cardiac, diaphoretic, diuretic, sedative, tonic

May treat:
insomnia, nervous tension, varicose veins, biliary obstruction, hepatic jaundice, reduces high protein oedemas, especially lymphodema

dye: soft-tan, grey-green; dry: linen scent, moth repellent, pot-pourri
red dye

Collection
Collect just before or as plant comes into flower.
Sweet-scented Bedstraw can be mistaken for Cleavers G. aparine, a close relative. However, they are only superficially similar, mostly when Cleavers is young. Sweet-scented Bedstraw has a relatively short season (March to June), lacks the sticky barbs present on the entire Cleavers plant, and has a distinct smell of fresh cut hay when bruised. This smell is stronger when the plant is dried.

Drying
Dry to store and to increase aroma. The aroma increases considerably when the plant is dried, and is retained for a long time.

Note
Sweet-scented Bedstraw is sometimes found in shady cottage gardens, especially derelict ones in the country side, where previous owners have discarded wood ashes.

Plant parts:
leaf
stem or trunk
sap
root, bulb, tuber and other below ground parts
flower
fruit
seed

Parts with black and white icons in the availability section are for non-culinary use

Use:
culinary use
medicinal use
household use

Other:
caution

General Glossary

• lanceolate: shaped like a lance head; long, tapering to end
• whorl: ring of leaves around stem

Glossary of Medicinal Terms and Nutritive Substances

• anticoagulant: retards or prevents blood clotting
• anti-inflammatory: reduces inflammation of joints, injuries etc. (see also demulcent, emollient)
• antispasmodic: prevents or eases spasms or cramps
• cardiac: has effect on the heart
• diaphoretic: promotes perspiration, aids the skin in elimination of toxins
• diuretic: increases secretion and elimination of urine
• sedative: calms the nervous system and reduces stress
• tonic: improves general health, bringing steady improvement