Seasonal Wild Flowers

Lady's Bedstraw

Galium verum

Rubiaceae

June to September

It is found throughout the country.

See the BSBI distribution map for Lady's Bedstraw

It grows in well drained, nutrient poor limestone, such as,

hay meadows, downs, sea-cliffs and dune grassland.

Lady's Bedstraw is a native, stoloniferous, patch-forming,

perennial herb growing up to 1m.

Flowers are bright yellow, 2-4mm - a corolla tube with 4

lobes, 4 stamens and 2 styles.

Leaves are in whorls, linear, green above and grey below.

Leaves are said to smell like new-mown hay, which may

be the origin of the name.

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Next page: Lamb's-ear

Lady's Bedstraw, grassland,

Silverdale, Lancs

Flower spike

Close-up of flowers, 4 stamens

and 2 short styles

Leaf whorls

Leaves