Galium verum L.
Lady's Bedstraw
Lady's bedstraw is a much-loved native perennial of the madder family, found in dry grassland, downland, heaths and old sand dunes across Britain, often near the coast. Unlike its white-flowered relatives it carries dense, frothy plumes of tiny golden-yellow flowers above whorls of slender, almost needle-like dark green leaves.
About
Lady's bedstraw is a much-loved native perennial of the madder family, found in dry grassland, downland, heaths and old sand dunes across Britain, often near the coast. Unlike its white-flowered relatives it carries dense, frothy plumes of tiny golden-yellow flowers above whorls of slender, almost needle-like dark green leaves. On warm days the flowers fill the air with a sweet scent of honey, and when the plant is dried the foliage smells strongly of fresh-cut hay.
It prefers free-draining, often lime-rich soils in full sun, and once established it spreads steadily to form bright drifts. Flowering through high summer, the nectar-rich blooms draw bees, hoverflies and other pollinators, and the plant supports the caterpillars of several moths. It was traditionally used to scent and stuff bedding, to curdle milk for cheese and as a source of dye, and today it is a cheerful, fragrant choice for meadow and dry grassland seed mixes.
Also known as
Lady’s Bedstraw · Yellow Bedstraw · Yellow Spring Bedstraw
Synonyms
Asterophyllum galium · Galium floridum · Galium rubioides · Galium souliei · Galium verum euverum · Galium verum tomentosum · Galium verum typicum · Galium verum verum · Galium verum vulgare · Rubia vera
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 10 – Species Rich Wildflower Meadow Seed Mix
- BFS 11 – Coastal Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 12 – Green Roof Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 120 – Wildlife Wildflower Seed Mix for Bees, Birds and Butterflies- 100% Flora
- BFS 130 – Flowering Grassless Lawn Wildflower Seed Mix – 100% Flora
- BFS 2 – Acid Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix for Sandy or Peaty Soils
- BFS 4 – Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 7 – Calcareous Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 9 – Country Meadow Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS1(F) – Traditional Hay Meadow 100% Wildflower
- BFS10(F) – Species Rich 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS11(F)- Coastal Meadow 100% Wildflower Meadow Mix
- BFS12(F) – Greenroof 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS2(F)- Acid Grassland 100% Wildflowers for Sandy/Peaty Soils
- BFS4(F) – Heavy Clay Soil 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS7(F)- Calcareous Grassland 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS9(F)- Country Meadow 100% Wildflower Seed Mix
- UM6 – Golden Summer Perennial Wildflower Mix
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.