Orobanche caryophyllacea
Orobanche caryophyllacea · Orobanchaceae
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant orobanche caryophyllacea: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Common name
- Cleavers broomrape
- Family
- Orobanchaceae
- Type
- Parasitic herbaceous plant
- Flowering
- April to June
- Adult size
- 20 to 60 cm in height
- Hardiness
- Hardy in temperate zones
- Origin
- Central and Western Europe
- Particularity
- Parasitic plant without chlorophyll
Care
Light exposure
Cleavers broomrape naturally grows on host plants in open, semi-shaded or sunny locations. It requires no particular light input since its growth depends entirely on its parasitic host.
Watering
No watering is necessary: the broomrape absorbs water and nutrients through its parasitic roots attached to its host. It follows the water requirements of the nourishing plant.
Soil and substrate
Cleavers broomrape preferentially parasitizes clovers and other Galium species. It does not root in the soil but on the roots of its host. The nature of the soil matters little.
Nutrition
No fertilizer is required, as the broomrape feeds solely through its parasitic system. It draws all necessary nutrients from its host.
Management and removal
In cultivation, broomrape is never pruned. If it develops invasively on a crop, mechanical removal or early hand-pulling before fruiting is preferred to prevent its spread.
Pests and diseases
The broomrape itself is a parasite. Once established on its host, it severely weakens the nourishing plant. Early detection and rapid removal limit damage.
Did you know?
Cleavers broomrape is entirely devoid of chlorophyll: it does not photosynthesize and lives as an obligate parasite on the roots of cleavers and other plants. Considered a formidable agricultural weed, it fascinates botanists through its remarkable adaptation and highly specialized life cycle, making it a spectacular example of coevolution.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.