It is widespread across most of Europe as well as Morocco, Western Siberia, Turkey, Kazakhstan and Xinjiang.

[1][2] Galium uliginosum is a component of purple moor grass and rush pastures – a type of Biodiversity Action Plan habitat in the UK.

It occurs on poorly drained neutral and acidic soils of the lowlands and upland fringe.

[3] Galium uliginosum is easily confused with marsh bedstraw, Galium palustre, but is distinguished from this species by having bristly edges on its leaves, and not turning black when it dries out.

The leaves are arranged in whorls of 6 to 10 around the stem, which is a characteristic feature of the bedstraw genus Galium.