Bedstraw (Note: Plant shown is a herbaceous perennial, not a tree)
Galium mollugo · Herbaceous Perennial (Broadleaf)
Plant Family
Rubiaceae
Tree Category
Wildflower / Groundcover (Often classified as a weed)
Variety / Cultivar
None specified; wild-type Hedge Bedstraw
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3-9
About This Tree
While not a tree, this is a scrambling, carpet-forming perennial with upright or sprawling stems. It features many small white flowers in large, branched clusters (panicles) that create a misty appearance.
Leaf Characteristics
Leaves are arranged in whorls of 6 to 8 along the stem; they are linear to narrowly oval, roughly 1-3 cm long, and have a small point at the tip.
Bark Characteristics
Not applicable (herbaceous). Stems are smooth, square in cross-section, and green, turning brown when dormant.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, North Africa, and Western Asia; naturalized in North America
Growing Season
Spring to late summer growth; flowers appear in late spring and summer (May-August); dies back to the ground in winter
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun to partial shade; prefers moist, well-drained soils but is highly adaptable and drought-tolerant once established.
Mature Size
Height of 30-100 cm (1-3 ft), spreads indefinitely via creeping rhizomes and seeds.
Special Characteristics
Known for its white floral display; historically used to curd milk for cheese making and as a source of red dye from the roots.
Wildlife & Ecology
Attracts small pollinators including hoverflies and bees; serves as a larval host for certain moth species like the Hummingbird Hawk-moth.