Botanical Archive No. 002

Cleavers

Galium aparine

Native to Europe, Asia, and North America, cleavers have been valued in traditional Western herbalism for centuries. It has been prepared as teas, fresh juices, and decongestants. These should not be taken by people with diabetes because of the plant's diuretic principles.

Archive record

Harvest

Harvest young stems and leaves before seeds fully mature, when the plant is soft and bright green. Morning harvest provides the best quality. Wear gloves if needed, as the plant has tiny, hooked hairs that will cling to clothing and skin. Cut only the healthy growth, make sure to leave plenty behind to continue to grow.

Grown

Woodland edges and open woodlands

Bloom time

Late spring through early summer typically May to July depending on climate. Tiny white to greenish white four petaled flowers appear before seed production.

Drying notes

Tie them in bundles and hang-dry in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. Cleavers tend to lose potency quickly when dried, so they are often used fresh rather than dried.

Storage

I pack them into a clean mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and make sure they are out of direct sunlight.

Recipes

These are most commonly used in Infusions and Tinctures.

Finding these is fairly easy, as they grow all across the United States. They stand around 3 feet tall and spread across the ground and up other plants. Look for them in the woods, wetlands, and riverbanks. Depending on when you are looking for Cleaver they may have tiny white blooming flowers. The best harvest time is spring through fall. In some states, it is considered a noxious weed, so don't plant it outside before checking with you states guidelines.

Cleavers are a new herb to my collection. It acts very similarly to poke root but in a much milder way. It is a great herb to help clear congestion and help with swollen lymph nodes. Once you find Cleavers in the wild, you'll find them all the time afterwards.