Cleavers Galium aparine
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- GAL-ee-um ap-AR-in-nee
- Description
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Sticky willy is an annual forb in the madder family and is found in most of North America. It is unclear if it is actually a native weed but most sites consider it as such. It is also found in Europe, Asia and many other parts of the world. Galium is derived from the Greek word for ‘milk’ and aparine means 'clinging' or 'seizing'.
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. In some areas it can grow in the winter, acting more like a biennial.
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 6-8. The stem and leaves have hooked hairs making it easier to climb over other vegetation. The fruits have bristles creating burrs that readily cling to fur and clothing. The flowers are tiny with 4 petals and appear in spring.
This weed is not difficult to control if pulled or hoed out while small before flowering and seed production commences. However, it can be difficult to remove the whole plant as the weak stems break off leaving the root to regrow.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Weedy
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Galium
- Species:
- aparine
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Flowers were used to curdle milk for cheese making. The plant was used to stuff mattresses. The plant has been used in herbal medicine
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America, Northern Asia and Europe
- Distribution:
- AK , AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
- Wildlife Value:
- Geese will eat the vegetation. Beetles and flies visit the flowers
- Climbing Method:
- Scrambler
- Edibility:
- Stems and leaves can be cooked. The fruits can be dried and used to make a coffee substitute as it contains less caffeine.
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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 Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- This is a schizocarp with 2 oval to round halves that are covered with bristles and contain 300-400 seeds covered in small tubercles. The burr attaches to fur and clothes for dispersal. It starts out green and matures to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Tiny star-shaped 2-3 mm flowers are light green to white and appear in the axils of stems or terminally. in spring to summer. Each cyme has 2-5 flowers with 4 petals and is visited by beetles and flies but are also self-pollinating.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Narrow leaves with pointed tips appear in whorls of 6-8 (usually 8) and have recurved hairs making them "sticky"
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is scratchy with recurved prickles on weak, four-sided stems.
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Weedy
