This sprawling annual features narrow, lance-shaped leaves arranged in distinct star-like whorls of six to eight around a brittle, four-angled stem. The entire plant is covered in microscopic, downward-curving hooked hairs. It produces clusters of tiny, four-petalled white flowers that rapidly mature into small, round, double-lobed seed burrs also blanketed in velcro-like hooks.
Interesting Facts
Its hooked hairs act exactly like natural Velcro, allowing it to hitchhike miles away by effortlessly clinging to animal fur and clothing. Belonging directly to the Rubiaceae (coffee) family, its roasted autumn seeds can make an excellent, caffeine-free coffee substitute. It was once packed tightly inside mattresses to serve as an springy, supportive bedding straw filling.
Importance to Wildlife
An underrated wildlife asset, it serves as the essential, primary larval host plant for several native moth species, including the striking Elephant Hawk-moth. Its dense, tangled summer mats provide vital ground cover and nesting shelter for small mammals and foraging birds. The tiny white flowers support early solitary bees and hoverflies, while its abundant seeds feed hungry garden birds.
Advice
Cleavers is not difficult to find; it forms a mat in some areas of OurEnglishOrchard (that we sometimes clear away in Autumn).