Galium verum
lady's bedstraw
Honey-scented, golden-yellow flowers and whorls of slender, dark-green leaves. Lady's bedstraw has a pleasant smell of new mown hay when dried which explains why it was once used as a mattress filler. Ideal for a sunny wildflower or perennial border, it's an important food-source for caterpillars of the 'broad-bordered bee hawk moth'.
How to care for Galium verum:
Lady’s bedstraw is easy to grow in poor, well-drained soils and thrives in full sun, where it quickly spreads to form a low, matting groundcover. Water young plants during dry spells until established, but once settled it needs little extra care.
Cut back the wiry stems after flowering to keep growth neat and encourage fresh foliage. This perennial can spread by seed and creeping roots, so thin or divide clumps every few years to prevent it from overrunning other plantings.
Cut back the wiry stems after flowering to keep growth neat and encourage fresh foliage. This perennial can spread by seed and creeping roots, so thin or divide clumps every few years to prevent it from overrunning other plantings.
Sowing instructions:
Sow in seed trays, or directly into a sunny, well prepared bed in spring, or from late summer to early autumn. When sown in seed trays, just cover the seed and keep well watered but not wet. Pot on when large enough to handle and harden off before planting at 30cm (12in) intervals outside in late spring or early summer.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
0.4m
Eventual spread:
0.15m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This perennial dies back to below ground level each year in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
approx 250 seeds
was £2.99
now £2.54
In stock
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
9cm pot
£7.99
In stock
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
3 × 9cm pots
£18.99
£6.33 each
In stock
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
6 × 9cm pots
£34.99
£5.83 each
In stock
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
(shipped within 2-3 working days)
1
