MHG Volunteer Blog: Week 14 - Cleavers

It's time for the latest blog from our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle.

Find out more about their blog series here.

7 April 2025

Another beautiful day at the castle. A day when you just want to sit in the sun, with an ice cream... but the weeding had to be done.

Dave weeded in front of the lavender 'hedge'. Carole carried out the weekly plant count. We have something in flower in the MHG every week of the year. Today, we had 27 different varieties in flower. The marigolds, which managed to survive the winter, have come into flower three months early.

Marigolds in bloom in the Medieval Herb Garden

After the count, Carole started to weed. Today she removed cleavers, buttercups, cinquefoil, couch grass, speedwell, dandelions, more buttercups, docks, lamb’s lettuce, nettles, petty spurge, hairy bittercress, rag weed, vetch and even more buttercups.

Although the most of these are actually medieval herbs, we only need so many of each in the MHG. The rest have to come out before they take over the garden!  We have often said that maybe we should have a 'weed of the week'...

In light of the above, today’s medieval plant of the week is a weed, for which I have gained a grudging respect. It’s so easy to pull up, once you notice it climbing up your other plants.

Plant of the Week – Cleavers (gallium aparine)

Cleavers has many common names such as clivers, catchweed, robin-run-the-hedge, goosegrass, bedstraw, sweetheart, stickyweed and barweed.

The name 'cleavers' comes from the fact that the plant sticks (or cleaves) to animals, clothing and skin. It sticks due to the tiny hairs along the stem and seed pods.

Cleavers is an annual, herbaceous plant. It is native to a wide region of Europe, North Africa and Asia. It is now also naturalised throughout the American and Australian continents, including some oceanic islands. It can grow in any soil type and conditions.

Cleavers growing in the Medieval Herb Garden

Cleavers has straggling stems. These branch and grow along the ground and over other plants. They attach themselves with the small hooked hairs which grow out of the stems and leaves. Cleavers prefers the sun and will climb up, over, or through, anything it can, to reach the light.

The stems can reach up to 4 ft tall, and are angular or square shaped.

The leaves are oval, and come in whorls of six to eight. The tiny flowers are star-shaped, of a white to greenish colour, and are clustered in groups of two or three.

The seed heads are covered with hooked hairs which cling to animal fur and human skin and clothing. This helps with their seed dispersal.

Culinary uses of Cleavers

The whole plant is rich in vitamin C and can be used to make a type of 'tea'.

Once dried, roasted and ground, cleaver seeds form one of the best substitutes for coffee. They contain less caffeine than traditional coffee sources.

Cleavers was once used as a potherb. The plant’s hook-like bristles soften when boiled. Its chopped leaves and stem can be made into soups and stews. The tender shoots can be boiled and buttered as a vegetable.

Folklore and other facts about Cleavers

The sticky seeds were once used by lacemakers to enlarge pinheads.

The roots of cleavers can be used to produce a permanent red dye.

The ancient Greek shepherds were said to use the plant as a sieve, when they were out in the fields tending and milking their sheep. In Sweden, a thick mat of the stems is still used as a filter for milk.

Cleavers provides food for the larvae of many butterfly species. Horses, cows, poultry, geese, and sheep also love to eat cleavers.

Folklore claims that whoever drinks cleavers water for nine weeks shall be so beautiful that everyone will fall in love with them..!

Medieval uses*

Cleavers was used both internally and externally. As a poultice (a moist mass), the herb was useful for treating wounds and various stubborn skin disorders. This included eczema, acne, and psoriasis.

Internally it was commonly used as a tonic for the kidney, liver, and lymphatic system. It was useful for treating oedema, arthritis, ear and throat infections. Cleavers were also used to cleanse the blood, treat scurvy, snake bites and induce sleep.

Cleavers was often mixed with goldenrod and nettles to help 'tonify' and strengthen weak kidneys.

In 1597 John Gerard wrote that “clivers” was “a marvellous remedy for the bites of snakes, spiders and all venomous creatures”. Quoting Pliny, he said: “A pottage made of Cleavers, a little mutton and oatmeal is good to cause lankness and keepe from fatnesse.”

*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.