Galium palustre
common marsh-bedstraw
Europe, North Africa, and northern and western Asia
Overview
Galium palustre is a slender, sprawling perennial of wet ground, with weak four-angled stems 6-28 inches (15-70 cm) long that scramble through surrounding vegetation for support. The leaves are arranged in whorls of four to six, each narrow and blunt-tipped, 0.2-0.8 inch (5-20 mm) long, and lacking the marginal prickles found in some related bedstraws. From early to midsummer the plant produces loose, branching clusters of tiny white flowers, each about 0.1 inch (3-4 mm) across with four pointed lobes. The fruit is a small smooth nutlet that ripens in pairs. Stems blacken on drying, a trait shared with several wetland bedstraws. It grows in marshes, fens, wet meadows, ditches, and pond margins, spreading by slender rhizomes as well as by seed. The plant rarely stands upright on its own, relying on neighboring plants to remain erect. A limitation in cultivation is its dependence on consistently moist to wet soil, without which it grows weakly and fails to spread.
Native Range
Galium palustre is native to Europe, North Africa, and northern and western Asia. It is widespread across the British Isles and much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere in suitable wet habitats.Suggested Uses
Galium palustre is used in wildlife ponds, bog gardens, and naturalistic wet meadow plantings. Its scrambling stems weave among marginal plants and support small pollinating insects. It suits damp, informal settings rather than border use.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6" - 2'4"
Width/Spread1' - 2'
Bloom Information
Flowering runs from early to late summer, roughly June to August. The small white flowers open in airy clusters held above the surrounding foliage. Fruits ripen from midsummer into early autumn.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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