Asperula taurina

Asperula taurina, also called Pink Woodruff, is found in the woods and rocky areas of the southern Alps where it tends to become rare. It is a vigorous, ground-covering perennial that forms dense and highly floriferous cushions in spring. Its clusters of small, white and fragrant spring flowers are charming. This woodruff is planted in partial shade, among bushes, at the base of hedges and on the edge of groves, where the soil is well drained or even rather dry in summer.

Asperula taurina belongs to the Rubiaceae family. This rather mountainous species is native to several regions in the southeast of France, as well as central and southern Europe, western Asia and Iran. Its natural habitat consists of herbaceous undergrowth and deep gorges. It prefers soils that are calcareous, often rocky and fairly dry, and partial shade. It is protected at a national level in France, where it is forbidden to pick it in the wild. Under good conditions, this woodruff is resistant to cold, diseases, and parasites.

Pink Woodruff is a creeping herbaceous perennial plant that forms a tuft 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 in) high. It colonises the soil through underground stolons. Its above-ground growth is deciduous, emerging in spring and withering in winter. Its stems are thin but quite strong, upright, quadrangular, villous, and lightly branched. They bear clusters of 4 leaves arranged in a star shape. Each leaf, elliptical to lanceolate in shape and slightly soft in texture, measures about 4.5 cm (2 in) long by 1.5 cm (1 in) wide. The slightly velvety lamina has 3 to 5 prominent veins and a bright green colour. Flowering occurs in May-June. The tubular flowers, ending in 4 narrow lobes, are gathered in terminal heads. They are white to whitish, approximately 1.4 cm (1 in) long, and pleasantly fragrant. The scent of the flowers attracts bees and various butterflies. After pollination, seeds are formed that easily germinate in light soils.

Asperula taurina thrives in light or rocky soil or scree, a crevice that receives morning sun, a trough, or at the base of a hedge. In very humid regions and heavy soils, it can be rather delicate to grow. You can also plant it in a raised border, always in partial shade, along with Ajuga reptans or bellflowers, for example.