Galium
Bedstraw
- Height × spread
- 0.3m – 1.5m × 0.3m – 1m
- Position
- Tolerates part shade, likes light shade, tolerates dense shade
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
There are around 400 species of Galium that are both annual and perennial, some of which can climb. One of them is a well known garden weed called cleavers (Galium aparine) that stickily climbs over everything at great speed. Woodruff (Galium odoratum) was a strewing herb and smothers the spring garden with dainty white flowers. The taller Galega mollugo, is white-flowered and these come in summer.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- Yes, some varieties
- Shape
- Dome, Prostrate
- Height
- 0.3m – 1.5m
- Spread
- 0.3m – 1m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Wild flower meadow, Scented garden, Herb garden
- Sun or shade
- Tolerates part shade, likes light shade, tolerates dense shade
- Soil type
- All types
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil, Well drained soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bee attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.