Geum rivale - Water Avens

From April to June, the wood avens, also known as river avens or brook avens, bears delicate flowers in shades of pink to reddish-orange, veined with purple, at the end of its flexible and hairy reddish-brown stems. Its dry fruits are feathery and catch the light with their hairs. Its foliage forms a rosette of densely tufted, deeply lobed, and velvety leaves, with an upright habit. Native to wet habitats in our regions, it thrives in rich, moist soils that can even tolerate temporary immersion and full sun, as long as the soil remains moist. A small perennial plant with abundant flowering, the wood avens is easy to grow and will look stunning in a "Cottage" style garden bed or a fresh rockery.

Originally from Europe and Asia and belonging to the Rosaceae family, the wood avens is a hardy perennial herbaceous plant, capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -15°C (5°F). Here in France, it is found in humid places, especially in mountainous areas. It bears graceful bell-shaped flowers, about 3cm (1in) in diameter, on purplish stems. Its deciduous leaves are deeply lobed, with the terminal leaflet being larger and trilobed, and have a beautiful medium green colour. It has an upright habit, reaching a height of 50cm (20in) and a width of 60cm (24in). Its basal clump grows from rhizomes, making it an effective ground cover.

It thrives in either full sun or partial shade, in slightly acidic to calcareous, moist, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. Under favourable conditions, the plant readily self-seeds.

This elegant plant, with its subtle colors, blends well in cottage gardens and curate gardens. Why not also try it in a more contemporary bed, where it will look wonderful alongside 'Black Barlow' Columbine and 'Blackfield' Persicaria. It also suits well the edges of water bodies and pond borders. In a fresh rockery, combine it with carpets of lady's mantle, rock cress, and creeping bugleweed.

The roots are aromatic and edible, with a taste reminiscent of liquorice and cloves. Native Americans use them to make a drink similar to hot chocolate. They are also used in medicine, like in the case of Geum urbanum, for their astringent, anti-inflammatory, and febrifuge properties.