Galium uliginosum L.
Fen Bedstraw
Fen bedstraw is a slender native perennial of the bedstraw family, widespread but local across Britain and Ireland. It has weak, four-angled stems that are rough to the touch, armed with tiny backward-pointing prickles that let it clamber through surrounding vegetation, and narrow leaves carried in whorls.
About
Fen bedstraw is a slender native perennial of the bedstraw family, widespread but local across Britain and Ireland. It has weak, four-angled stems that are rough to the touch, armed with tiny backward-pointing prickles that let it clamber through surrounding vegetation, and narrow leaves carried in whorls. Small white flowers appear in loose sprays from the upper leaf axils through summer, and the foliage carries a faint coumarin (new-mown-hay) scent as it dries.
As its name implies, it is a plant of wet ground, but specifically of base-rich or calcareous sites that stay wet at the surface yet rarely hold standing water in summer, such as fens, marshes, flushes and damp tall-herb grassland. Flowering from June to August, the blossom attracts small pollinating insects. It is mainly of interest for fen, marsh and wet-meadow restoration on suitably lime-rich, permanently moist soils rather than for ordinary garden borders.
Synonyms
Galium albolutescens · Galium aquaticum · Galium grandiflorum · Galium hirsutum · Galium langei · Galium minus · Galium palustre uliginosum · Galium spinulosum · Galium spurium · Galium sylvaticum supinum · Galium uliginosum ericetorum
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.