One of the absolute delights of gardening is experimenting with different plants and species to see what they can and can’t do. At some point, almost every gardener becomes an amateur scientist who strives to stretch the boundaries of nature’s bounty in an effort to find different ways to grow those beloved plants. That’s precisely why there are now so many plants that will happily grow indoors because someone, somewhere, has decided to give it a try. To that end, there’s a stunning, fly-repellent plant that you might never have thought of growing indoors known as sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum). This is normally grown as a freshly-scented ground cover in USDA hardiness zones 4 through 8.

Sweet woodruff is a herbaceous perennial native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. It has an interesting history in that the flowers were used in cheese making because they can curdle the milk. The blooms are also edible and were used to flavor drinks and teas, as well as adding a sweet fragrance to perfumes. It’s this scent, along with the smell of freshly mown hay and vanilla that the leaves emit when crushed, that makes this species so good at repelling flies. Sweet woodruff is a trailing species that spreads over the ground and doesn’t mind a bit of shade. In fact, this sweet-sounding flowering ground cover thrives under shady trees. This makes it an ideal candidate for growing indoors in a hanging basket where the 2 foot long stems can spill down over the sides.

This sweetly-scented plant would work beautifully near a bright window where it gets only indirect sunlight. It would need a good quality potting mix because it does thrive in fertile soils when grown outdoors. You would also want to ensure you keep it well-watered, because if the soil becomes too dry, the plant is likely to go dormant. Take care when handling sweet woodruff because the stems can break quite easily.

You’ll find that its fly-repelling qualities are just one of the benefits you’ll gain if you grow this species indoors. Give the leaves a little crush whenever you walk past the plant and you’ll enjoy that lovely vanilla fragrance which will slowly waft around the room. You can also snip off some of the leaves and dry them. These are perfect for adding to potpourris, an old-school way to keep your home smelling fresh, and popping into sachets for your linen closet. The dried leaves will hold their scent for many years. When used in your linen cupboard or wardrobe, it can even be useful to protect against pests such as moths. Plus, you’ll be pleased to know that this plant can keep ticks at bay because they find the scent unappealing. All in all, this is one of those magical plants that just keeps on giving and certainly deserves a place in your home, if you want to try growing it indoors.