Asperula Species, Annual Woodruff, Blue Woodruff, Oriental Woodruff

I successfully wintersowed this plant. I transferred to small pots, it seems tougher than it looks. It is very delicate and small like ma...Read Moreny wild flowers, some resemblance to sweet woodruff. Sadly, when I left it in the garden for just one night before planting, the rabbit found it and ate it. It must taste really good to rabbits!

Some germination details:

Although this seed has germinated successfully at 50% within 2 - 6 days when sown around 70*F (*...Read More), its germination has also been successful when sown at cold temperatures as in the following:

1) LilyLover's comment above that it self-sows in Utah,
2) Pepsidrinker's success in wintersowing it in zone 5b in March 2007
3) Mr. Deno got better germination (87.5%) sowing at 40*F than at 70*F (50%) in one batch.

Therefore, direct sowing this annual 4 - 6 weeks before last spring frost (like you would poppies), also seems to be a good idea - especially in places with hot summers like ours, where poppies and sweet peas burn up by July.

* 2nd edition of Norman C. Deno's book, Seed Germination Theory and Practice

Blue Woodruff Asperula orientalis is Naturalized in Texas and other States.

This is my favorite self-sowing annual. It's easy to grow from seed, and the lavender blue flowers look nice coming up around larger plants.