Rubiaceae Care

Galium lucidum is a species of plants in the Rubiaceae. It is native to the Mediterranean region, from Portugal and Morocco to Greece, the range extending northwards into Germany.

The shiny meadow bedstraw is a perennial, herbaceous plant and reaches heights of 25 to 70 centimeters. It forms long runners. The stems are ascending or erect. The branching starts above the middle. The stems are green, thin and tender. They are square, bald or with short hairs. Downward spiked bristles are missing.

The leaves are four to ten together in whorls. With a length of up to 30 millimeters and a width of 0.5 to 2 millimeters, the leaves are linear and single-veined or indistinctly veined. The edge of the leaf is rolled up, it is rough due to the small spines pointing forward. The end is narrowed into a short spiked tip. The upper side of the leaf is glossy and not blue-green.

This plant might be poisonous

How to get rid of: Pulling-out and mulching is another method that can be done in relatively small areas. However, it can also stunt or stop the growth of the surrounding plants. It also cannot control some perennial weeds, especially those whose food reserves continue to grow despite the mulching.

How? You may use hay, grass cuts, or wood chips, among others, as mulch. Cover the ground with this or with other covers, like newspaper clippings. This can prevent sunlight from passing through the weeds for its nutrition.