Description

There are two species of medium height, clambering bedstraws that can be found growing in damp soils (three if you live in the New Forest), marsh and fen bedstraw. Fen bedstraw is the shorter of the two and can be identified by the presents of a bristle like tip to the leaves and backward pointing hairs along the edge of the leaves. The flowers, which are present from June to August, are white and formed into loose clusters at the end of the stem.

Habitat Information

Fen bedstraw is a native perennial of marshes and fens usually found in drier, more calcareous sites than Marsh bedstraw but sometimes found growing with it. It exploits areas where more robust and dominant species are kept in check by partial shade, occasional disturbance or a combination of both. Fen bedstraw can be added to EP1 or, on damp sites, EW1.

Growing Information

Best sown in the autumn.