Galium porrigens var. porrigens
Climbing bedstraw
(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rubiaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Galium porrigens var. porrigens (Climbing bedstraw) is a native California shrub in the Rubiaceae family, recognized by climbing habit with recurved hairs, widely ovate leaves with obtuse tips, and translucent-white berries.
Climbing bedstraw is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Valley, central western California, southern California, northern Channel Islands, Transverse Ranges, and Peninsular Ranges in chaparral and forest habitats at elevations of 15 to 2,130 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces small white flowers in delicate, clustered arrangements. Growing with slender, climbing stems that weave through surrounding vegetation, it can reach lengths of up to one meter. Its leaves are widely oblong to ovate, approximately 2 to 18 millimeters long, with obtuse to rounded tips and subtle three-veined structure. The plant produces translucent-white, smooth fruits that blend subtly with its surrounding foliage.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 57 sympatric species; distinguished by climbing habit with recurved hairs, widely ovate leaves with obtuse tips, and translucent-white berries
Habitat and range
Habitat: Among shrubs in chaparral, forest
Elevation: 15-2130 m
California counties: San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Monterey, Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, El Dorado, Orange, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Humboldt, San Benito, Nevada, Marin, Trinity, Napa, Lake, Shasta, Mendocino, Alameda, Sonoma, Tehama, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Del Norte, San Francisco, Sutter, San Mateo, Solano, Stanislaus, Siskiyou, Yolo, Colusa
Outside California: southern Oregon, northern Baja California
Bloom period
Galium porrigens var. porrigens 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 porrigens var. porrigens native to California?
Yes. Galium porrigens var. porrigens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Galium porrigens var. porrigens bloom?
Galium porrigens var. porrigens blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Galium porrigens var. porrigens grow?
Galium porrigens var. porrigens occurs in San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, Riverside, Monterey, Ventura, San Bernardino, San Diego, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 15-2130 m.
What plant family does Galium porrigens var. porrigens belong to?
Galium porrigens var. porrigens is in the Rubiaceae family, genus Galium.
What habitat does Galium porrigens var. porrigens grow in?
Galium porrigens var. porrigens grows in Among shrubs in chaparral, forest.
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.