Lady's bedstraw.

En un coup d'œil

Niveau d'entretien

Facile

Type de plante

Perennial herb

Lumière

Full sun

Lumière en intérieur

Soleil direct

Arrosage

Tous les 7 à 14 jours

Taille adulte

2 to 3 feet

Croissance

Moyenne

Rusticité

USDA 3 à 8

Floraison

Early to late summer

Entretien

Plant this in a spot that gets plenty of sunshine and ensure the soil drains well. Keep an eye out for aphids during the growing season, though it's generally a tough plant. It spreads by rhizomes, so give it enough room to roam.

Arrosage

Water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Engrais

A light application of compost in early spring is usually plenty.

Taille

Cut back the stems after flowering to keep the plant tidy.

Rempotage

Repot if the plant becomes root-bound or needs division to control its spread.

Sol

Well-draining sandy or loamy soil

pH du sol

Neutral to alkaline

Température

-30 à 30°C

Humidité

40 à 70%

Résistance à la sécheresse

Élevée

Durée de vie

Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years.

Parfum

Fort

Résistance aux chevreuils et lapins

Moyenne

Sécurité

Humains

This plant is generally considered non toxic but should be used with caution.

Enfants

The stems have tiny, rough hairs that can be abrasive to sensitive skin, so it is best to keep children from handling it excessively.

Allergènes de contact

Some individuals may experience mild skin irritation from the tiny hooked hairs on the stems.

Allergènes aéroportés

The pollen may trigger mild reactions in sensitive individuals during peak bloom.

Comestibilité

While historically used in cheese making, consult a professional before consuming any part of this plant.

Comment l'identifier

• Tiny bright yellow flowers
• Whorls of needle-like leaves
• Square stems with fine hairs
• Honey-like fragrance when blooming

Hauteur

0,3 à 1m

Envergure

0,3 à 0,6m

Feuilles

dark green, evergreen

Fleurs

yellow, 0,2 à 0,4cm

Fruits

black, late summer

Problèmes courants

• Aphids — Small insects that cluster on new growth and can cause leaf curling.

La cultiver

Multiplication

division, seed

Quand planter

spring, autumn

Hivernage

The foliage remains green in mild winters. Simply trim back any dead or straggly stems in early spring to encourage fresh growth.

En pot

It grows well in containers but requires a pot at least 20 cm deep to accommodate its spreading roots.

Plant in drifts with other sun loving perennials to create a stable, low maintenance meadow patch.

Bonnes associations

• Achillée millefeuille — They share similar soil and sun requirements in meadow settings.
• Ox-eye Daisy — They provide a classic wildflower meadow aesthetic.

Espèces similaires

• Galium odoratum — It is a close relative but prefers shady, moist conditions.

Science

Famille

Rubiaceae

Genre

Galium

Ordre

Gentianales

Classe

Magnoliopsida

Région d'origine

Europe, temperate Asia, and North Africa.

Préservation

This plant is common and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in dry, grassy habitats and sandy soils where it competes well with other low growing meadow plants.

Intérêt pour la faune

larval host plant, nectar source

Pollinisateurs

abeilles, papillons, papillons de nuit, coléoptères

Utilisations

ground cover, pollinator gardens, meadow plantings, dried floral arrangements

Taxonomie vérifiée avec le GBIF.

Ce qu'on demande souvent

Does it spread easily?

Yes, it spreads by rhizomes and can be quite vigorous in ideal conditions.

Can I grow it in shade?

It prefers full sun but will tolerate light shade.

D'où vient le nom

The genus name Galium comes from the Greek word for milk, referring to its historical use in curdling milk for cheese. The specific epithet verum means true or genuine.

Bon à savoir

• It was once used to stuff mattresses because the scent repels fleas.
• The roots produce a red dye similar to madder.
• It is a member of the coffee family.

Aussi dans

• Plantes résistantes à la sécheresse