Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium
Photo: parent species Galium angustifolium · Photo by Chez Brungraber
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium is a native California subshrub in the Rubiaceae family.
Narrow-leaved bedstraw is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Nevada, south Coast Ranges, and southwestern California in cliffs, canyons, and protected hillside places at elevations of 15 to 2,650 meters. Flowering from April to June, this plant produces small white flowers in many-flowered, generally open clusters. Growing with woody stems 15 to 100 centimeters tall that have distinctive ridges narrower than their grooves, it forms an open, spreading habit. Its leaves are small, measuring 5 to 27 millimeters long, and the plant ranges from generally glabrous to white-hairy. The stems can be quite variable, with some plants appearing more hairy than others, creating interesting textural differences across populations.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Cliffs, canyons, protected places on hillsides
Elevation: 15-2650 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Orange, San Benito, Imperial, Fresno
Outside California: northern Baja California
Bloom period
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium blooms Apr-Jun.
How to tell it apart
vs Eriogonum: Galium has whorled leaves and tiny flowers; Eriogonum has alternate/basal leaves and dense flower clusters with papery bracts.; vs Sherardia: Galium flowers have stalks and no sepals; Sherardia flowers lack stalks and have six prominent sepals.; vs Baccharis: Galium has whorled leaves and tiny four-petaled flowers; Baccharis has alternate leaves and composite flower heads.; vs Lupinus: Galium has whorled narrow leaves and tiny rotate flowers; Lupinus has palmate compound leaves and pea-like flowers.; vs Euphorbia: Galium has whorled leaves and four-petaled flowers; Euphorbia has alternate leaves and milky sap with specialized flower cups.
Frequently asked questions
Is Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium native to California?
Yes. Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium bloom?
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium blooms Apr-Jun.
Where in California does Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium grow?
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium occurs in San Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Diego, Riverside, Monterey and other counties, at elevations of 15-2650 m.
What plant family does Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium belong to?
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
What habitat does Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium grow in?
Galium angustifolium subsp. angustifolium grows in Cliffs, canyons, protected places on hillsides.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Galium angustifolium subsp. borregoense — Borrego bedstraw
- Galium angustifolium subsp. foliosum
- Galium angustifolium subsp. gabrielense — San antonio canyon bedstraw
- Galium angustifolium subsp. gracillimum — Slender bedstraw
- Galium angustifolium subsp. jacinticum — San jacinto mountains bedstraw
- Galium angustifolium subsp. nudicaule
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.