Bluntleaf Bedstraw
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(Galium obtusum)
Bluntleaf Bedstraw (Galium obtusum)
/
Skyler Principe
CC BY 4.0
Image By:
Skyler Principe
Recorded By:
Copyright:
CC BY 4.0
Copyright Notice:
Photo by: Skyler Principe | License Type: CC BY 4.0 | License URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ | Rights Holder: Skyler Principe | Publisher: iNaturalist | Date Created: 2023-06-26T16:48:43-07:00 |
Summary
Galium obtusum, commonly known as bluntleaf bedstraw, is a perennial herb native to a variety of habitats in eastern North America, including moist deciduous forests, wet meadows, floodplains, and stream banks. It typically grows 8 to 30 inches tall and features whorled leaves with characteristically blunt tips. The small, white, four-petaled flowers bloom in the summer and are not particularly showy, but they do attract pollinators. The plant also produces tiny, hooked fruits that can cling to fur and clothing.
Bluntleaf bedstraw is valued for its ability to thrive in shady, moist conditions where other plants may struggle. It is often used in naturalized plantings, rain gardens, and restoration projects. It prefers partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soils, though it can tolerate a range of soil types. This plant is low-maintenance, but it can spread aggressively in some conditions, making it potentially problematic in smaller garden settings. While it is considered a noxious weed in some states, it is also an important host plant for various butterfly species.CC BY-SA 4.0
Bluntleaf bedstraw is valued for its ability to thrive in shady, moist conditions where other plants may struggle. It is often used in naturalized plantings, rain gardens, and restoration projects. It prefers partial to full shade and moist, well-drained soils, though it can tolerate a range of soil types. This plant is low-maintenance, but it can spread aggressively in some conditions, making it potentially problematic in smaller garden settings. While it is considered a noxious weed in some states, it is also an important host plant for various butterfly species.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 1-3 feet
- Width: 1-2 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer
- Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Part Shade, Full Shade
- Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow
Common Uses
Erosion Control, Low Maintenance
Natural Habitat
Moist deciduous forests, wet meadows, floodplains, and stream banks
Other Names
Common Names: Wild Madder, Bristly Bedstraw, Blunt-Leaved Bedstraw, Large Marsh Bedstraw, Obtuse Bedstraw, Bedstraw
Scientific Names: Galium obtusum, Galium obtusum var. obtusum
GBIF Accepted Name: Galium obtusum