Catchweed Bedstraw
Galium aparine
Also listed as Aparine vulgaris, Galium uncinatum
Also known as Cleavers, Catchweed, Goosegrass
Climate Match for your location
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A low-growing annual or winter annual with delicate white flowers and sticky, hooked fruits that cling to clothing and fur. Often considered a weed, it can spread rapidly in moist, shaded areas.
Why grow it
Catchweed bedstraw establishes quickly in disturbed, moist soils where many ornamental groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary stabilization or as a pioneer species in woodland restoration. Unlike slower-growing native bedstraws, it germinates readily and fills space within a single season, though it typically dies back after flowering rather than persisting long-term. It provides early-season forage for pollinators and serves as a trap crop for certain pests, drawing them away from other plantings.
Watch out for
This plant self-seeds prolifically once established, so deadheading before seed maturation is advisable if you want to contain it to a specific area. Its sticky fruits adhere to clothing and animal fur, which can inadvertently spread seed beyond intended zones. In areas with consistent moisture and mild winters, winter annual populations may persist and become difficult to manage if not removed promptly after flowering.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
European
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A low-growing annual or winter annual with delicate white flowers and sticky, hooked fruits that cling to clothing and fur. Often considered a weed, it can spread rapidly in moist, shaded areas.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Catchweed Bedstraw grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Catchweed bedstraw establishes quickly in disturbed, moist soils where many ornamental groundcovers struggle, making it useful for temporary stabilization or as a pioneer species in woodland restoration. Unlike slower-growing native bedstraws, it germinates readily and fills space within a single season, though it typically dies back after flowering rather than persisting long-term. It provides early-season forage for pollinators and serves as a trap crop for certain pests, drawing them away from other plantings.
Watch out for
This plant self-seeds prolifically once established, so deadheading before seed maturation is advisable if you want to contain it to a specific area. Its sticky fruits adhere to clothing and animal fur, which can inadvertently spread seed beyond intended zones. In areas with consistent moisture and mild winters, winter annual populations may persist and become difficult to manage if not removed promptly after flowering.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rubiaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
European
Native to: Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Ground cover
Low spreading plants that carpet the soil.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar ground covers you might consider:
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