The link between Galium verum and Mary arises out of early customs and legend. The dried stems and flowers of the plant were used to stuff mattresses especially for women about to give birth. The story goes that when Mary found herself in a stable about to deliver the Christ child, she thought the hay was too rough. Her touch caused the Galium verum to flourish and provide comfortable bedding for her. A slightly different version of the story says that Mary used the Galium verum as bedding for baby Jesus in the manger. Mangers in the Holy Land were usually made of stone because the area lacked trees making wood scarce. Soft bedding would have been critical for a baby in such a manger. Other versions of the story tell us that the plant’s flowers were originally white but turned golden yellow at Mary’s touch, symbolizing divine light, holiness, joy and/or purity. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Native to grasslands and meadows of Europe, North Africa and southwestern Asia, this rhizomatous, herbaceous perennial is a member of the coffee family, Rubiaceae, that also includes gardenia and Pentas. Plants grow 8-30″ tall and have wiry stems that carry whorls of 8-12 needle-like leaves. Each leaf is 1/2 to 1 1/2″ long and up to 1/8″ wide, and has a pointed tip. Both leaves and stem are covered with short hairs. Dense terminal clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers appear in the leaf axils of the upper part of the plant in summer. Each flower is about 1/8″ across and usually has 4 petals.
The genus name, Galium, is from the Greek word γάλα (gala) meaning milk, and refers to the use of the plant in cheese making. The specific epithet, vernum, is the Latin word meaning true and refers the fact that this species is the most well known of the genus.
Yellow bedstraw likes full sun to part shade in average, dry to medium moist well-drained soil in USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8. Plants are generally healthy but susceptible to powdery mildew, rust and fungal leaf spot. They can become weedy so care should be taken to restrict their growth if necessary. Propagation is by division.
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