Eggarton Cottages, Eggarton Lane, Godmersham, Kent, CT4 7DY
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Perennial with tiny yellow flowers smelling of honey on tall, thin stems to about 2 ft (60 cm) high. Member of the Bedstraw family and related to Sweet Woodruff. Also known as Yellow Bedstraw, Cheese Renning and Maid's Hair (because the yellow flowers were stuffed into ladies' caps in order to dye their hair blonde). Found in the wild on dry, sandy sites, grasslands and dunes. The plant has a bitter taste. Name comes from the Greek "gala", meaning milk.
Flowers used to be used in coagulating milk instead of rennet. It has been used to colour butter and cheese yellow. A decoction of this was believed to refresh the feet. As its scent increases as it dries, it was often used as stuffing in pillows and mattresses, particularly for women about to give birth, as it was believed to ensure a safe and easy childbirth. In medieval times it was called Our Lady's Bedstraw because it was believed that it provided part of the bedding in the stable at Bethlehem. Has also been used to treat urinary and kidney problems, epilepsy, hysteria, skin disease and bleeding. Is useful for scurvy, cystitis, jaundice, sores, tonsillitis and lymphodenopathy. Make a pillow of Lady's Bedstraw to combat sleeplessness. Soak the plant in hot water and soak aching feet. The plant contains a chemical used in dicouramil, which stops blood clotting.
Roots were used to provide a red dye; a yellow dye is obtainable from stem and leaves. Orange and gold is also available depending on the mordant used. Mixed with strawberry and cranberry juices, the American Indians boiled the roots with larch flowers to dye porcupine quills scarlet. Lady's Bedstraw was used to dye wool for the Harris tweed industry in Scotland. It was later replaced with imported Madder (a related plant from Asia). In Europe, people would place a piece of the plant in their shoes for protection.
Flowers June to August. Will spread quickly. Plant in well-drained soil in a sunny spot in autumn. Will tolerate damp conditions and partial shade. Spreads. If planting in a meadow, leave the meadow uncut until it has stopped flowering at the end of summer.
Attracts butterflies and hawk moths, particularly the Hummingbird Hawk moth, Small Elephant Hawk moth and the Gallium Carpet, Plain Wave, Oblique Striped, Riband Wave, Bedstraw hawk moth, Archer's dart and Red Chestnut moths. Also the Ruddy Carpet, Royal Mantle, Common Carpet, Water Carpet, Beech Green Carpet, Red Twin Spot Carpet, Wood Carpet, Mottled Grey and Green Carpet moth caterpillars.
Lady's Bedstraw is very hardy when established and will tolerate drought conditions because its root system is quite large, enabling it to find water.
*This sheet is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*