Hedge Bedstraw – Galium album

Hedge Bedstraw (Galium album) used to be known by its old name of Galium mollugo.
It is a medium to tall height plant, and similar to that of the other Bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw also has the square stem with undivided leaves. The flowers are small and white in colour, sitting close together in clusters of 4 petalled flowers.
It is easily identified from other memebers of the Bedstraw family by its smooth texture on the stem with broad leaves. It can sometimes be mistaken for Heath bedstraw but the habitiat in which Hedge bedstraw grows is different and the seeds of each plant are also different.

This plant is often found in rough grassland, hedge banks and woodland edges. The seeds that it produces are also spread by stolons. Hedge Bedstraw is a native, sprawling, clambering, stoloniferous, perennial herb, growing up to 1.5m. The large head of white, clustered flowers can have flowers as wide as 5mm in diameter with 4 pointed petals on each flower within the dense cluster.

Height:  Up to 150cm
Flowering Time: July onwards
Preferred Conditions: Prefers to grow in well drained calcareous soil and is found in rought grassland, hedgerows, banks and woodland edges.

Hedge Bedstraw - Galium album