Climbing Bedstraw
Galium porrigens var. porrigens
Care
full sun, part shade
5–5ft tall
Friendly
Sierra Nevada foothills and adjacent ranges from Butte County south to Kern County, between 1000-4000 ft elevation in oak woodland and chaparral.
Care Guide
Planting
Plant Climbing Bedstraw in full sun to part shade, giving it space to sprawl and climb - it can reach 5 feet tall with its characteristic prickly stems that help it cling to supports. Plant in spring or fall when temperatures are mild, and provide well-draining soil since this native thrives in chaparral and coastal shrubland conditions where water doesn't linger.
After Planting
Water weekly during your first summer to help it establish, then taper off as it matures since this California native is adapted to dry conditions once rooted. Expect minimal intervention after year one - this is a woody perennial that doesn't require heavy pruning, though you can gently guide its climbing stems where you want them to go. The biggest mistake is overwatering; remember this plant evolved to handle our dry summers, so err on the side of less water rather than more once established.
Wildlife Supported
Birds
Coastal populations may use dense herb patches for ground cover
Gleaning arthropods from plant foliage throughout year
Dense herbaceous cover for roosting and protection Nov-Mar
Foraging for insects associated with herb foliage during breeding season
Insects
Parasitizing herbivorous insects on herb foliage
Hunting small arthropods within plant canopy during breeding
Foraging for aphids and small arthropods on herb foliage
Mammals
Dense foliage provides cover and nesting habitat