Rubiaceae
Dyer's woodruff
Asperula tinctoria
Also known as Woodruff, Yellow woodruff, Asperula tinctoria, Asterophyllum tinctorium
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Woodruff · Dye Plant · Shade Perennial · Woodland Garden · Asperula · Cottage Garden · Heritage Plant · Medicinal Herb · Rare Perennial
Dyer's woodruff is a delicate, shade-tolerant perennial prized historically for its yellow dye and small white flowers, growing best in humus-rich, well-drained soil in part to full shade. Keep the soil consistently moist, particularly during dry spells, and mulch around the base to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature. It is a specialist plant best suited to woodland or cottage garden settings and may require sourcing from a specialist nursery.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Water moderately, keeping soil evenly moist but never waterlogged; allow the top inch to dry between waterings · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- Moderate
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7.5–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 4 ft
- Spread
- 3 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Yes
- Foliage
- Fine
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Austria, Baltic States, Bulgaria, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Northwest European R, Norway, Poland, Romania, South European Russi, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies, Moths
Sources: trefle
More Asperula
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Dyer's woodruff right now.