Native Plants

Plant Database

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Weyand, Phyllis

Galium triflorum

Galium triflorum Michx.

Fragrant Bedstraw, Sweet-scented Bedstraw

Rubiaceae (Madder Family)

Synonym(s): Galium brachiatum, Galium pennsylvanicum, Galium triflorum var. asprelliforme, Galium triflorum var. viridiflorum

USDA Symbol: GATR3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), GL (I?), SPM (N)

Fragrant bedstraw is a trailing perennial that crawls along the ground or over other plants, sometimes reaching almost 3 ft. in length. Its leaves are broader that most Galiums and arranged in whorls of six. The tiny, star-like flowers are greenish-white and in groups of three at the ends of the stems.

Sweet-scented; trailing plant.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: Stems prostrate or scrambling, up to about 3 feet long.
Fruit: Hairy nutlets.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep

Distribution

USA: 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
Canada: NB , NS , PE
Native Distribution: Nf. to AK, s. through e. Canada & n. states; sparingly s. to GA, TX, Mex. & CA
Native Habitat: Moist woods & thickets; fields

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Moist to mesic soils.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Commercially Avail: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU	FAC	FACU		FACU	FACU		FACU	FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Galium triflorum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Galium triflorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Galium triflorum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-15
Research By: TWC Staff

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