Jan–MarApr–JunJul–SepOct–Dec
Planting
Days to maturity
Seasonal yields
Sow indoors · Direct sow · Transplant outdoors
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Plant · P-119
Cleavers
Galium aparine
Cleavers is a scrambling annual that carpets shaded ground in early spring, running on cool-season moisture and finishing before the heat arrives - unlike most weeds, it actually wants shade and scorches quickly in full sun. Its hooked burrs cling to fur and clothing, which is how it spreads, and its roasted seed makes a genuine coffee substitute since the plant belongs to the same family as coffee. Young shoots are edible and the whole plant has a long history as a lymphatic tonic, but mature growth turns coarse and irritating, so both people and grazing animals should only take it young.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Partial Sun · Shade
- USDA zone
- USDA 3–10
- Soil
- Sand · Silt · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Moderate · Wet
Vertical layer
Herbaceous- Soil pH
- 6–8
- Plant type
- Annual
- Mature height
- 0.3–6 ft
- Mature spread
- 3–6 ft
- Plant spacing
- 3–6 ft
- Root type
- Tap
- Spread pattern
- Seed
Keep exploring
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Angelica
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Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
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Apple Mint
Mentha suaveolens
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Arrowroot
Maranta arundinacea
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The deeper layer
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- Primary
- Locked ecological function
- Secondary
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- Byproduct
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Behind the record
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