Kendall County (IL) Forest Preserve District
Sweet-Scented Bedstraw
Galium triflorum
[C-value
5]
Madder family (Rubiaceae)
Blooms
mid-June -
August
The native Sweet-Scented Bedstraw is uncommon in our area. It prefers light shade to partial sun and moist fertile loamy soil. Habitats include moist to slightly moist deciduous woodlands, rocky bluffs, partially shaded seeps and springs, partially shaded riverbanks, and bogs. This perennial is 1-3' tall and branching occasionally with slender stems having a tendency to sprawl. The short stem hairs give the stems a rough clinging texture. At intervals along the stems, there are whorls of 6 leaves. These leaves are up to 2½" long and ½" across. Occasionally, 1-3 stalks of flowers develop from the middle to upper whorled leaves. Each stalk may have 1-3 flowers on slender pedicels. Each tiny flower (about 1/6" across) has 4 white petals tapering to a narrow tip.
Sweet-Scented Bedstraw at Millbrook North Forest Preserve June 20, 2014
Sweet-Scented Bedstraw at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 20, 2017
Sweet-Scented Bedstraw foliage at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 20, 2017
Sweet-Scented Bedstraw colony at Pickerill/Pigott Forest Preserve June 19, 2017
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