Coastal bedstraw
Galium bermudense
Rubiaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description:
Small herb.
Height:
About 4-8 inches in height, usually creeping along the ground and forming small open patches.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Southeastern United States and the mid-Atlantic west to Texas and south to the Monroe County Keys; northern Bahamas. Very rare or extirpated in the Monroe County Keys; collected on Key Largo in 1934 and on Big Pine Key in 1951.
Habitats:
Moist forests and pinelands.
Soils:
Moist, well-drained sandy or limestone soils, with humusy top layer.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate; can grow in nutrient poor soils, but needs some organic content to thrive.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Moderate; grows near salt water, but is protected from direct salt spray by other vegetation.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Light shade.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Inconspicuous.
Flowering Season:
Spring-summer.
Fruit:
Purple berry.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed.
Comments:


James J. Lange, 18 March 2015
In habitat, Virginia Key, Florida
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Keith A. Bradley
Keith A. Bradley