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What is Cleavers Herb?

O. Parker
O. Parker

Cleavers herb is a cool climate, herbaceous perennial plant. Cleavers is one of the common names for the plant classified as the species Galium aparine in the family Rubiaceae. Cleavers are named for their habit of cleaving to the fur of passing animals, people and birds as a method of seed dispersal. An alternate and much-used common name is bedstraw, as the plant sticks to itself, creating a dense mat that was found to be ideal for stuffing mattresses. Cleavers herb is used in the landscape and garden, for food, and as an herbal medicine.

Cleavers herb grows 4 to 9 feet (about 1 to 2 meters) tall, forming a thick, matted layer over other plants. Though not classified as a climbing vine, cleavers do cling and climb up other plants as they grow. The stems and seed pods have sticky, rough hook-like hairs that cling to fur, clothes and feathers of passing creatures. This method of seed dispersal allows the plant to distribute itself over a large area.

Man mowing the grass
Man mowing the grass

The plants grow best in cool climates and damp soil in an area that gets part to full shade. Though moderately tolerant of drought, cleavers herb will quickly die if exposed to full, direct sun. Cleavers are effective when grown in a wild area of a garden or landscape setting or along a living hedgerow or border area.

Cleavers are not a frost-tender plant and can withstand winter temperatures as low as -40°F (about -40°C). The plant material dies back to the ground in the late fall, around the time of the first frosts. The plant regrows in the spring from the hardy root system and from seed. Dead plant material should be cut back in winter or early spring before the new growth appears.

A patch of cleavers needs little care or attention and will continue to return each year without additional help. When necessary, the plants are propagated from seeds started in the late summer or early fall and raised in a cool greenhouse for the first year. Seeds can also be stored for the winter and sown outdoors the following spring.

For culinary purposes, the tender shoots of cleavers herb are best harvested in the spring and added to soups and stews. In the summer and fall, the plants become increasingly bitter. The seeds, when roasted, have a flavor that is similar to coffee and is often used as a coffee substitute. Cleavers herb is also grown and harvested for use in herbal tinctures and other medicinal preparations.

Discussion Comments

Perdido

@kylee07drg – Cleavers herb tea is great for getting rid of urinary tract infections. That's because it is a diuretic, and the more urine that you remove from your body in a short amount of time, the more bacteria you eliminate.

Some people use cranberry juice for this, but I prefer the taste of cleavers herb tea. It washes out the bacteria so that they can't cling to your urethra and cause cramping.

orangey03

@OeKc05 – Cleavers herb grows on my property, too. I like the fact that it spreads so much and becomes thick, because it chokes out grass and other weeds.

I don't mind that it's sticky. It keeps me from having to mow certain areas, and I really appreciate that!

kylee07drg

I have heard of several cleavers herb benefits, though I've never had the need to try it for any of them. My aunt says that it's great for detoxifying your lymphatic system, and my uncle tells me that it can treat a urinary tract infection.

Since I've never had issues with either of these, I just take their word for it. I wouldn't mind giving it a try if I did develop problems that it could possibly fix, though.

OeKc05

This stuff grows wild in my front yard. It does stick to my pants if I get too close to it.

It's a pretty plant. I like the green protrusions that give it character. I just have to remember not to touch them.

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      Man mowing the grass