Northern Bedstraw
Galium boreale
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States
iNaturalist: © nathanaaron (iNaturalist #51497665)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Genus:
- Galium
- Species:
- Galium boreale
- USDA Symbol:
- GABO2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 80 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Epirrhoe sperryi, Grammia oithona
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- butterflies, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts from rhizomes following fire; common in fire-maintained prairies and meadows.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- moist, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- good drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers calcareous soils in native range
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best with cold stratification; light may enhance germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: None required
Establishment: Seed is collected in September when the inflorescence is dry and the seeds are brown in color. Seed can be stripped from the stalks by hand or entire stalks can be cut. Plants hold their seed well, shattering is not generally a problem. Harvested seed is stored in paper bags at room temperature until cleaned. There is some conflicting information about whether cold, moist stratification improves germination rates.
Source: npn.rngr.net