Galium multiflorum
Kellogg's bedstraw
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Subshrub · Native
Galium multiflorum (Kellogg's bedstraw) is a native California subshrub in the Rubiaceae family, recognized by unequal leaf pairs diagnostic among co-occurring species.
Kellogg's bedstraw is a California native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Great Basin, and Desert Mountains in rocky sagebrush places at elevations of 1,300 to 2,900 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces white to pale pink flowers in delicate terminal panicles. Growing with erect stems 15 to 35 centimeters tall, it forms a woody base with slender, sometimes hairy branches. Its leaves grow in whorls of 4, arranged in two unequal pairs, with larger leaves 8 to 15 millimeters long, widely ovate to round, and gently arched. The fruit consists of small nutlets 4 to 7 millimeters long, covered in long, straight hairs.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 44 sympatric species; unequal leaf pairs diagnostic among co-occurring species
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky places in sagebrush
Elevation: 1300-2900 m
California counties: Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Tulare, Lassen, Siskiyou, Riverside, Sierra, San Bernardino, Nevada, Placer
Outside California: Nevada
Bloom period
Galium multiflorum blooms May-Aug.
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 multiflorum native to California?
Yes. Galium multiflorum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Galium multiflorum bloom?
Galium multiflorum blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Galium multiflorum grow?
Galium multiflorum occurs in Mono, Inyo, Modoc, Tulare, Lassen, Siskiyou, Riverside, Sierra and other counties, at elevations of 1300-2900 m.
What plant family does Galium multiflorum belong to?
Galium multiflorum is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
What habitat does Galium multiflorum grow in?
Galium multiflorum grows in Rocky places in sagebrush.
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.