# Wild Madder (*Rubia peregrina*)

Wild Madder is a climbing plant with bright green leaves and small, star-like flowers. It grows in sunny places and can be found in fields and along roadsides.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Wild Madder](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rubia_peregrina3.jpg&width=800)

Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Aroche assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rubia_peregrina3.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wild Madder is a scrambling perennial with four to six glossy, dark green leaves arranged in whorls around square-shaped stems. Its tiny, star-shaped flowers are pale yellow-green, appearing in small clusters. It can be distinguished by the rough, backward-pointing prickles on its stems and leaf margins.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Gentianales
- **Family:** Rubiaceae
- **Genus:** Rubia

## Interesting facts

- Its roots were once used to dye Roman soldiers' cloaks bright red!
- The plant's tiny flowers are a favorite snack for many small insects.
- Wild Madder belongs to the same plant family as your morning coffee!
- Wild Madder leaves grow in whirls, usually with four to six leaves around the stem.

## Special abilities

- **Prickly Climber:** Wild Madder can grow hooks on its stems and leaves, allowing it to climb other plants for sunlight and support.
- **Seed Spreader:** Wild Madder produces small, dark berries that are eaten by birds, helping to spread its seeds far and wide.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-150 cm
- **Spread:** 50-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.3-0.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — disperses seeds via fruit
- **Eaten by:** Egyptian cotton leafworm (*Spodoptera littoralis*) — larvae feed on leaves

## Traits

- [Climbing/Vine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/climbing-vine): Climbing or vine plants are characterized by a growth habit that allows them to ascend upwards by twining, tendrils, or adhesive roots.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Dye](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/dye): This human use trait indicates species from which natural dyes can be extracted and used to color textiles, food, or other materials.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch wild plants unless an adult says it's safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wild Madder?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Wild Madder?

30-150 cm

### How wide does Wild Madder spread?

50-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Wild Madder?

0.3-0.5 cm

### When does Wild Madder bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is Wild Madder edible?

No

### Is Wild Madder toxic?

Mild

### What is Wild Madder's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Cabrera Archipelago National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cabrera-archipelago-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Wild Madder: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-madder)