Narrowleaf Bedstraw – Galium angustifolium ssp. angustifolium (GAL-ee-um an-gus-tee-FOH-lee-um)

Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Native to: The local ssp. (angustifolium) is limited to southwestern California, Baja and the southern Sierras; usually found in dry often shaded places, including cliffs and canyons below 8000 ft. elevation

(many plant communities).

Growth characteristics: perennial/sub-shrub mature height: 1-3 ft. mature width: 3-4 ft. Sprawling herbaceous perennial with a woody base. Leaves are attractive bright green, strap-like in whorls. Plant grows quickly with winter rains, dies back to ground in summer drought period.

Blooms/fruits: Blooms in spring, time depending on rains. Plant are dioecious (separate male and

female plants). Flowers are tiny, yellow or white (female), in flat clumps above the foliage. Hundreds of flowers make this plant quite showy in bloom.

Uses in the garden: Best used as a spring-blooming deciduous perennial under oaks (and other large

Zone 1 or 1-2 plants) and in dry shady mixed beds. In nature, often found with other shade-tolerant

native annuals like Chinese Houses, shrubs and grasses. Place among other plants, as it dies back in summer.

Sensible substitute for: Non-native Galiums (Sweet Woodruff and others)

Attracts: Bird eat the seeds.

Requirements:

Element Requirement

Sun Full sun along immediate coast; part sun in most gardens

Soil Any

Water Zone 1-2 to 2-3; no summer water to occasional water; drought tolerant in shade

Fertilizer None needed; organic mulches ok

Other

Management: Cut back to just above woody stem in fall (if does not die back naturally)

Propagation: from seed: charred wood increases germination by divisions: probably, winter

Plant/seed sources (see list for source numbers): 1, 12, 13, 16 12/29/14

© Project SOUND

Galium angustifolium

Narrowleaf bedstraw