Rubiaceae
Forest bedstraw
Galium circaezans
Also known as Cleavers, Galium circaezans var. hypomalacum, Galium circaezans var. glabrum, Galium rotundifolium var. circaezans
Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Groundcover · Woodland Plant · Native Perennial · Shade Tolerant · Rubiaceae · Forest Garden · Naturalistic Planting · Eastern Us Native · Understory · Low Maintenance
Forest bedstraw is a delicate native groundcover best suited for shaded woodland gardens and naturalistic plantings under deciduous trees. It thrives in humus-rich, well-drained soil and requires very little care once established, spreading gently to fill in shaded areas. Use it as an understory ground layer where little else will grow, and water occasionally during prolonged dry periods.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 3 hours
- Watering
- Water lightly to keep soil evenly moist; avoid overwatering as it tolerates brief dry periods · Every 7-14 days; relies mostly on natural rainfall once established
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 7.5–8
- Temperature
- -25°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 4b-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- Mixed
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Alabama, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, QuéBec, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas
- Attracts
- Bees, Moths
Sources: trefle, usda
More Galium
Related plants from the same genus
Buy this plant
No nurseries currently list it
No nursery lists Forest bedstraw right now.