Bluntleaf Bedstraw

Galium obtusum

Strong

Native to Virginia. How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height: About 1.5 feet
Light: Up to 6 hours of direct sun
Soil moisture: Average to wet

Will it fit your yard?

Galium obtusum — bloom photograph — Robert H. Mohlenbrock. USDA SCS. 1989. Midwest wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. Midwest National Technical Center, Lincoln. Courtesy of USDA NRCS Wetland Science Institute. · Public domain · Original photograph

At a glance

Life cycle: Perennial
Bloom: Mid spring
Fruiting season: Spring to summer

Not yet recorded · Spread · Leaves

Recorded in 75 Virginia counties.

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Virginia. Shared habitat, not food. 132 animals.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Birds. 4 shared habitats
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Dendroica coronata
Birds. 4 shared habitats
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Tree Sparrow
Spizella arborea
Birds. 3 shared habitats
American Woodcock
Scolopax minor
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Brown Thrasher
Toxostoma rufum
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Brown-headed Cowbird
Molothrus ater
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Eastern Phoebe
Sayornis phoebe
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Golden-winged Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Great Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Hooded Warbler
Wilsonia citrina
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Northern Parula
Parula americana
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Aegolius acadicus
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius
Birds. 3 shared habitats
Pine Siskin
Carduelis pinus
Birds. 3 shared habitats

All wildlife of Virginia

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

12CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including VA

Genus host records with ranges including VA · Galium

Apantesis phylliraPhyllira Tiger Moth
Apantesis virgoVirgin Tiger Moth
Costaconvexa centrostrigariaBent-Lined Carpet
Epirrhoe alternataWhite-Banded Toothed Carpet, Striped Carpet
Hyles lineataWhite-Lined Sphinx
Lobocleta ossulariaDrab Brown Wave
Orthonama obstipataThe Gem
Pleuroprucha insulsariaCommon Tan Wave
Scopula limboundataLarge Lace-Border
Stenoporpia polygrammariaFaded Grey

Show all 12

Xanthorhoe ferrugataRed Twin-Spot, Twin-Spot Carpet
Xylophanes tersaTersa Sphinx

Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)

3BeesSoutheastern regional records

Southeastern regional records · Galium

Individual names are not available yet.

Noori, Seltmann & Orr 2026, A curated and integrated dataset for exploring global bee-plant interactions (GloBI), Zenodo, CC BY 4.0

0Specialist beesPollen specialists

8BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim

Recorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim · Galium

Catharus guttatusHermit Thrush
Columbina passerinaCommon Ground Dove
Coturnicops noveboracensisYellow Rail
Dendragapus obscurusDusky Grouse
Falcipennis canadensisSpruce Grouse
Fulica americanaAmerican Coot
Meleagris gallopavoWild Turkey
Zenaida macrouraMourning Dove

Hurlbert, Olsen, Sawyer & Winner 2021, Avian Diet Database, Scientific Data 8: 260 (CC0)

Direct food only: birds recorded eating this genus across North America. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family: Rubiaceae
Flower color: White
Growth rate: Moderate
Growth habit: Single crown
Foliage color: Green
Fruit begins: Spring
Fruit ends: Summer

What its natural habitat tells you

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Bloom · “Mid spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Flower color · “White” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Foliage color · “Green” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit begins · “Spring” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Fruit ends · “Summer” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth habit · “Single crown” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Growth rate · “Moderate” · USDA PLANTS · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Height · “About 1.5 feet” · USDA PLANTS (ranked first; Minnesota Wildflowers differs) · Nationwide species characteristics; local growing conditions may vary
Life cycle · “Perennial” · Minnesota Wildflowers
primary_flower_color · “white” · USDA PLANTS

Also known as

Blunt Leaf Bedstraw

Conservation status

Virginia rank	S5
Global rank	G5
VA status	Not verified
Federal status	Not verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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How to check your spot

Bluntleaf Bedstraw

At a glance

Also found with this plant

Who uses this plant?

Plant details

Conservation status

Will it fit your yard?

Sources

More Galium