Galium angustifolium
narrow-leaved bedstraw
California and the southwestern United States
Drought Tolerant
Native to North America
Overview
Galium angustifolium is a wiry, much-branched perennial subshrub of the chaparral and dry slopes of California and the Southwest, one of the bedstraws in the madder family. It forms an airy, rounded mass 12-36 inches (30-90 cm) tall and about as wide on slender four-angled stems that become woody at the base. The narrow, almost needle-like leaves, 0.25-0.75 inch (6-19 mm) long, are carried in whorls of four along the stems. Plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate individuals; the small four-petaled flowers, white to pale yellow or faintly pink, open from spring into summer and are followed on female plants by small hairy fruits. G. angustifolium grows in full sun to light shade on rocky, sharply drained ground and tolerates heat and extended summer drought, dropping or shriveling leaves in the driest months. The flowers are small and inconspicuous. The dense, slender green stems and whorled narrow leaves give a feathery texture year-round in mild areas. The brittle stems break easily, and plants can look sparse outside the growing season.
Native Range
Native to California and Baja California, extending east into Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. It grows in chaparral, coastal sage scrub, and on dry rocky slopes and ridges below about 8,000 feet (2,400 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in native plant and habitat gardens, on dry banks, and in revegetation of chaparral and sage scrub. It gives cover and forage for wildlife on arid slopes and helps hold soil on rocky ground.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 3'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Colors
Bloom Information
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
white to pale yellowFoliage Description
green to gray-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 5-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Plants need full sun to light shade and rocky, sharply drained soil. Water is needed only while young, and established plants rely on winter and spring rain and tolerate hot, dry summers. Hardiness runs roughly from USDA zone 8 to zone 10, with top growth damaged by hard frost. Wet or heavy soils cause root rot, and shade makes growth thin and weak. No fertilizer is needed on native ground. Plants are short-lived but self-sow where conditions suit them.Pruning
A light shearing after flowering keeps the wiry growth dense and removes brittle dead stems. Hard cutting into old wood is slow to regrow. Otherwise no routine pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
summer