Northern Bedstraw (Galium boreale)
GAL-ee-um boreale

Deciduous Perennial Mat-Forming, Spreading in the Rubiaceae Family
A true North American native groundcover with airy clusters of tiny white, four-petaled flowers over whorled, square-stemmed foliage from late spring into midsummer — equally at home in a woodland edge or a sunny prairie planting.
Galium boreale, commonly called northern bedstraw, is a mat-forming perennial native to prairies, open woods, and woodland edges across Canada and the northern United States. Smooth, square stems bear narrow leaves in whorls of four and branch near the top of the plant, where many-flowered clusters of tiny, four-petaled white flowers appear from late spring into midsummer. The airy, cloud-like flower clusters have earned it the alternate common name "sweet-scented bedstraw" in some regions. Spreading steadily by creeping roots and self-seeding, it forms dense colonies well suited to naturalized areas, rock gardens, and woodland edges, tolerating everything from full sun to full shade.

Pros

  • Spreads readily to form an attractive, low-maintenance groundcover
  • Tolerates full sun, part shade, or full shade
  • True North American native adapted to a wide range of soils
  • Airy white flower clusters add texture without overwhelming neighbors

Cons

  • Spreads aggressively by creeping roots and self-seeding; can be too weedy for formal borders
  • May smother smaller, less vigorous companions if left unchecked
  • Best reserved for naturalized or woodland-edge plantings
Why Like A true North American native found naturally in prairies, meadows, and open woods from Canada south through the northern United States. Its roots have historically been used to produce a red dye, a trait shared with other members of the madder family (Rubiaceae), which also includes the commercial dye plant madder.
Highlights
  • North American native, found from Canada south through the northern US
  • Tolerant of full sun through full shade
  • Fast-spreading groundcover for naturalized areas
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 18 - 24 inches tall. 12 - 18 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium
Zones 2a - 9b (Usually hardy to -50° F)
Tags Attracts Pollinators, Deciduous, Full Shade, Full Sun, Groundcover, Illinois Native, Low Maintenance, Medium, Native to North America, Naturalizing, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Prairie Garden, Shade Tolerant, Woodland Garden
Bloom Period June to July
Flower Color White
 

More Info from Experts
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 04/03 - 10/04
2024 : 05/01 - 10/05
2023 : 06/21 - 09/30

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!