Cleavers Galium aparine
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- GAL-ee-um ap-AR-in-nee
- Description
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This fairly ubiquitous wildflower is also listed as an edible weed. It can be found in coniferous forests, deciduous woodlands, meadows, prairies, flood plains, disturbed areas, abandoned fields, and cultivated crops. In the southeast, it is typically found in riparian and floodplain forests. The plant can grow up to 6 feet, but with its weak stem it cannot stand up on its own, thus clambering over other vegetation. Its leaves are distinctively arranged in whorls of 8. As its common names imply, it clings to clothing and animal fur due to backward hooked bristles on its stems and leaves.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Galium
- Species:
- aparine
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Northern Asia and Europe
- Climbing Method:
- Scrambler
- Edibility:
- Included as an edible weed
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Weed
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- This is a schizocarp with sticky, hooked hairs on the seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The stem is scratchy with recurved prickles on weak, four-sided stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Problems:
- Weedy