Are you ready to go wildcrafting? Join me in my garden in this video and learn how to harvest the cleavers plant and how NOT to harvest it. Then we’ll make a spring herbal beverage from this wildcrafted, medicinal plant. You’ll find out how to prepare it, how to store it, and the benefits of cleavers!
Galium aparine is the botanical name of this wild weed. As with all wildcrafting endeavors, it is important to have 125% accurate identification of your plants.
Harvest Cleavers Before It Goes to Seed
Harvest the cleavers plant before or during the flowering stage and before it goes to seed. Once it goes to seed, let it do just that.
In the video above, I show you how to harvest it so you don’t compromise the seeds and you can make sure that next year’s harvest is bigger.
Cleavers can be invasive and the seeds are sticky, and I mean sticky. The seeds will cleave to anything that walks by them (great distribution strategy).
Many people find them annoying, but for me, I just know that the bigger the patch gets, the more I’ll be able to harvest in the spring.
Last fall (when the seeds are the stickiest), a dad dropped my son off and he got out of his truck to chat with me for a bit.
Some of the cleavers growing next to my driveway, caught his pant leg. He pulled the cleavers and thought he was doing me a favor by proceeding to pull all the cleavers out around the one that caught him.
I couldn’t help it, my body just had a sudden squealing reaction and I screamed at him, “Ah ah ah, no, no, no, stop!”
He was so confused! I said I was sorry for yelling and told him how much I cared about this very beneficial medicinal plant.
He didn’t know that it was medicinal and just thought of it as a very annoying weed that ruined his socks.
I know, crazy plant lady…
Cleavers Herb Benefits
I look forward to the ritual of enjoying the benefits of cleavers every year.
This plant is high in minerals and vitamins. It also supports the kidneys and urinary tract. As a gentle lymph tonic, cleavers can support the movement of lymph and reduce swollen lymph glands.
Cleavers tea or juice is the perfect cooling drink for a warm spring or summer day. In my family, we drink about an ounce of juice per day per person, in the form of the Cleavers Cooler recipe below.
You could also make cleavers tea with 1 tablespoon of fresh herb to 1 cup of water.
Cleavers Cooler
Ingredients
- Fresh cleavers
- 2 ounces cleavers juice
- 1/2 gallon water
Instructions
- Using a juicer, juice the fresh cleavers.
- Mix 2 ounces of fresh cleavers juice into ½ gallon of water and shake well before drinking.
- Store in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days.
If you like learning about edible weeds, you might also enjoy learning about purslane!
Dear Kami, Great to land on your site. I am harvesting cleavers this week for a friend who makes botanicals. I can only deliver on Friday morning so I have to harvest the cleavers the night before. Do you think I could store them in the fridge overnight? Perhaps wrapped gently in a damp cloth? I would be so grateful for some advice. Thank you.
Yes, that would be fine to store the cleavers that way for one night.
thank you, Kami.
I simply put a handful of roughly-crushed cleavers in a jug of water overnight, then strain and drink it. Sometimes I leave it a little longer for a stronger flavour. Like a cross between melon and cucumber. It’s my favourite summer drink – so refreshing.
I have it in my alley. Where can we get good, safe seed for purslane, etc.
Mountain Rose Herbs is a great place if your local herb shop or nursery doesn’t carry seeds.
Where can I buy cleavers?
Cleavers, does not store well and is an herb that doesn’t do well in commerce. Most distributors don’t sell cleavers, so you have to grow it or harvest it yourself.
I have given in to the “weeds” in my front yard. They seem to be the only things that thrive. I call it my “if you can’t beat ’em join ’em” yard. I transplant the dandelions into my flower bed. I use ribbon to hold up the 6′ burdock. I am in the process of grouping and labelling all the weeds. I am surprised at the health benefits of them. I have taught the neighbor kids to “shoot” the buckhorn plantains. I live in central Ohio. If you know of a comprehensive guide of the plants and their benefits with… Read more »
The Peterson Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America by Steven Foster & James A. Duke is a wonderful guide.