Climbing Bedstraw

Climbing bedstraw is a spreading, woody perennial with long, tangled vines growing up to 5 ft. The lower stems are woody, but the younger, upper vines are made of delicate, light green tissue in a square shape. The tiny, bright green leaves, which grow in flat whorls of four along the stems, are tinged with red and purple around the edge. Both the leaves and stems are covered in tiny, hooked prickles, which make the stems stick to each other and other rough surfaces, such as clothing. The plant is dioecious, so male and female flowers occur on separate plants, though both flowers are tiny, cream, and have four petals. The male flowers typically grow in clusters, while the females are solitary. The fruit is a tiny white berry.

Basic Information

• Member of the Rubiaceae, or coffee, family

• Perennial herb and vine, though sometimes it is woodier like a shrub

• There are two recognized varieties:

  • Galium porrigens var. porrigens — native to Oregon south to Baja California

  • Galium porrigens var. tenue — native to Oregon and California

Habitat

• Native from Oregon south to Baja California

• Commonly found in chaparral, scrublands, and forests

  • Can often be found climbing on or mingling with other plants

Reproduction

• Blooms from February to May

• Dioecious, with male and female reproductive organs occurring on separate plants

• Seeds disperse via hooking onto passing animals

Alternative Names

• Nuttall's Bedstraw, Graceful Bedstraw

Additional Information

• The name bedstraw comes from its historic use as a mattress filler