Catchweed Bedstraw (Galium aparine) is in the madder family family (Rubiaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 4,771 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Catchweed Bedstraw: observations by month (U.S.)
About Catchweed Bedstraw
Galium aparine, ('aparine' from Greek 'apairo' - “lay hold of” or “seize”) with many common names including cleavers, clivers, "bort", bedstraw, goosegrass, catchweed, stickyweed, stickybud, robin-run-the-hedge, sticky willy, sticky willow, stickyjack, stickeljack, and grip grass, is a herbaceous annual plant of the family Rubiaceae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Catchweed Bedstraw by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 462 | April | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 369 | April | Apr–May |
| North Carolina | 315 | April | Apr–Apr |
| New York | 308 | May | Apr–May |
| Pennsylvania | 291 | May | Apr–May |
| Texas | 261 | March | Mar–Apr |
| Ohio | 246 | May | Apr–May |
| Illinois | 236 | May | May–May |
| Maryland | 212 | May | Apr–May |
| Washington | 194 | May | May–Jun |
| Oregon | 177 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 173 | May | May–May |
| New Jersey | 152 | May | May–May |
| Kentucky | 149 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Tennessee | 140 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Michigan | 116 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 114 | May | Apr–May |
| Georgia | 106 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Minnesota | 76 | May | May–May |
| Alabama | 66 | April | Mar–Apr |
| Louisiana | 62 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Mississippi | 58 | March | Mar–Apr |
| District of Columbia | 53 | April | Apr–May |
| Iowa | 46 | May | May–May |
| Massachusetts | 46 | May | May–Jun |
| Missouri | 42 | May | Apr–May |
| Florida | 38 | March | Feb–Mar |
| Connecticut | 28 | May | May–Jun |
| South Carolina | 27 | April | Feb–Apr |
| Vermont | 21 | May | May–May |
| Delaware | 20 | May | May–May |
| Nebraska | 20 | May | May–May |
| Kansas | 18 | May | May–May |
| Arkansas | 17 | April | Apr–Apr |
| West Virginia | 17 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 15 | May | May–May |
| Alaska | 14 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Arizona | 11 | March | Feb–Apr |
| Rhode Island | 11 | June | May–Jun |
| Idaho | 8 | June | May–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 8 | April | Mar–Apr |
| South Dakota | 8 | May | May–Jun |
| Utah | 8 | May | Apr–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (madder family)
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Catchweed Bedstraw?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from April to May.
Where is Catchweed Bedstraw most often seen?
The most observations come from California, Virginia, North Carolina.