Galium mollugo
Hedge bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw
(c) Andreas Rockstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Galium mollugo (Hedge bedstraw) is a non-native California herb in the Rubiaceae family, recognized by non-native status, large size, and swollen nodes.
Hedge bedstraw is a naturalized perennial herb found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, and San Francisco Bay Area in disturbed areas at elevations generally below 1,000 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces small white flowers in delicate, many-flowered panicles with rotate corollas. Growing with stout stems 30 to 120 centimeters tall that are slightly swollen at the nodes, it has an erect habit that can be either glabrous or hairy. Its leaves grow in whorls of 8, with oblanceolate to obovate blades that have abruptly soft-pointed tips. The small fruit consists of a few tiny nutlets without any accompanying hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 32 sympatric species; non-native status, large size, and swollen nodes are diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas
Elevation: generally < 1000 m
Outside California: native to Europe
Bloom period
Galium mollugo blooms Jun-Jul.
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 mollugo native to California?
No. Galium mollugo is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Galium mollugo bloom?
Galium mollugo blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Galium mollugo belong to?
Galium mollugo is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
What habitat does Galium mollugo grow in?
Galium mollugo grows in Disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.