I'm aware this plant has a lot of very specific regional names and wanted to know what everyone called it. I grew up in Omagh calling in Goosegrass, but was surprised when I moved to Belfast a few years ago and everyone called it Stickyweed.
What do you call it and where do you come from?
by ZoroeArc
38 comments
Stickleback or robin-run-the-hedge.
I’ve heard goose grass too.
Ed: North Coast. “Robin-run-the-hedge” was maybe just one teacher in school saying it… not sure.
We called it’Robin run the hedge’ in the Triangle area. Now I’m in Belfast I have to call it stickyweed so I’m understood.
Whatever it’s called it’s got a great pair of bollox in the 4th pic.
Cleavers, North Antrim
Sticky jimmy
I think we just called it sticky grass… Never thought about it having flowers before, nice pic
Sticky back
Eugene
Sticky Willy
Stickyweed.
sticky plant!
Sticky weed
Sticky Willy. FYI the seeds can be dried and then used like a poor man’s coffee, it has some caffeine content.
Robin-run-the-hedge for me. Galium aparine when I have to be boring in work
Sticky ivy
Sticky wee bastard.
Sticky Willy
Stickleback
Sticky plant
Stickyweed when I’m mentioning it to someone else and *Galium aparine* when I’m mumbling to myself about it as I’m gardening. It’s the only plant I refer to by its scientific name and I have no idea why.
wee sticky shits
A right bastard when the dog runs through it.
Looks like that sticky weed I throw at my kids 😂
Stickygrass
And as you children would slap it on each others clothes
Good times
Sticky Willy. It was the inspiration for the invention of velcro.
Cleavers
Cleavers and stickleback. County Down.
Sticky willy’s
Sticky legs
Tip: if you use an iPhone to take a picture of a plant, you can swipe up on the photo and it will give you an option to help identify the plant. Like so.
ETA: I thought you were asking for help at first, but after reading the body of your post it was just name curiosity. Still, it’s a fun little feature.
https://preview.redd.it/knbtiwsgpced1.jpeg?width=1284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3090c256345224c91d67b647209b0740411ca558
Sticky Geordie
Robin-run-the-hedge here too. Used to stick it to my wee dog when I was a wean.
It’s a species called *Galium aparine*. It’s an annual plant that is considered a weed for obvious reasons. It’s thought it’s originally endemic to North America. However, that is up for debate as it is naturalised throughout the world and can not be definitively tied down to one particular region as it has been naturalised in Europe and other destinct geographical areas for a very long time. I’m guessing it got here via its preferred way of spreading its seeds, attached to animals, hence the common names such as sticky willie and catch weed, etc. It’s been naturalised in Europe for a very long time, I’d guess it got here via migratory birds such as the Brent geese who migrate to Ireland from North America.
Awful stuff. I love most plants, but certainly not them.
Sticky Jack
Sticky willy
stickyweed, bangor
UK they are stick to fucking near on everything
Stickey Joe