Galium californicum
California bedstraw
no rights reserved, uploaded by Alex Heyman · CC0
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Galium californicum (California bedstraw) is a native California subshrub in the Rubiaceae family.
California bedstraw is a California native perennial found in mixed montane habitats at elevations of 500 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces small yellow-green flowers in delicate clusters. Growing with slender stems 5 to 90 centimeters tall, it forms low cushion-like to slightly climbing formations with distinctive hairy textures. Its leaves grow in distinctive whorls of 4, each leaf 2 to 25 millimeters long, with ovate to elliptic shapes and acute to obtuse tips. The plant produces small berries that are occasionally hairy, reflecting its unique dioecious nature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated with 0 sympatric species
Habitat and range
California counties: Lake, Colusa, Mendocino, Humboldt, Monterey, Placer, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, Alameda, Santa Barbara, San Diego, San Bernardino, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Los Angeles, Tulare, Marin, Sonoma, San Mateo, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Trinity, Napa, Butte
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 californicum native to California?
Yes. Galium californicum is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Galium californicum grow?
Galium californicum occurs in Lake, Colusa, Mendocino, Humboldt, Monterey, Placer, Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo and other counties.
What plant family does Galium californicum belong to?
Galium californicum is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
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.