Blue Woodruff

Here’s what’s ahead: 

• Getting Started

• Sowing

• Location 

• Care

• Enjoy 

Getting Started

Important information at a glance: 

• Sowing depth: 1 cm

• Germination temperature: 15-20°C

• Germination period: 7-14 days

• Sowing pot/flower: April/June–July

• Sowing outdoors/flowering: April–May/June–July

• Row spacing: 25 cm

• Plant distance: 20 cm

• Root depth: 20 cm

• Location: sunny to semi-shady

• Soil: Permeable

• Type: Weak Eater

This rare, old flower variety is a treat for bees, butterflies and your eyes as well, especially in the summertime. The small blossoms of this summer flower shine in blue-violet tones, beautifying partially-shaded areas in your garden or your balcony. Blue woodruff itself is an annual plant, whose flowers appear in June and July.

Sowing

Here’s what you need:  

• Big pots

• Shower ball

• Peat-free organic potting soil

For sowing in a pot:

If you want to add a splash of colour to your balcony or windowsill, you can sow your blue woodruff seeds directly into the final pots – this is done in April. Blue Woodruff should no longer be transplanted once it has started to sprout, so grab some large pots (diameter approx. 20-25 cm, depth 20 cm) and remove the seed-paper from your calendar. Use your fingers to press 1 cm deep holes for the seeds into the moistened potting soil. Then tear or cut the paper into small pieces and place them writing-side-down in the holes. This will make it easier for the seeds to penetrate the paper. Close the holes and water the soil. Keep moist until germination.

For sowing outdoors:

First, treat any loamy, heavy soil with sand or compost.

If you want your blue woodruff to bloom in the garden, you should sow the seed directly there. Clear the site of weeds and draw grooves 1 cm deep at 25 cm intervals with your fingers. Place the seeds 20cm apart. Close the grooves and water your flowers’ future summer home.

Isolate: from May/June, you may find that your plants have grown too close together, even though you managed to maintain proper distance when sowing. This happens due to the rain, wind, insects or animals. In order for your flowers to grow nice and tall, you will want to remove the weaker specimens. This applies to both the pot and the bed.

Location

It doesn't matter whether it's sunny or partially shaded – your blue woodruff is not very picky. The main thing is that you give him enough water to drink when it gets hot. Just like most flowers, he does not tolerate water-logging, so be careful not to overwater. A permeable soil is just right for these delicate summer flowers. If you care for it properly, your blue woodruff can soar to a height of 30 cm. So if you have very loamy and heavy soil in your garden, improve it with compost or sand before planting.

Good Neighbours & Bad Neighbours

• Good: Cherries 

• Bad: None

Care

Water vigorously in hot weather, but not to much in mild or moderate temperatures.

Remove the seeds after flowering and store them in a dry place to sow again next year.

Treat loamy, heavy soil with compost or sand before sowing.

Enjoy

Flowers are at their best outdoors. If they are allowed to pursue their true calling – making the world a more beautiful place – they and you will be happiest. In June and July, when the blue woodruff blooms, it shares its beauty – and its nutrients – with bees and butterflies, for which it serves as a food source.