White Avens Geum canadense
- Phonetic Spelling
- JEE-um ka-na-DEN-see
- Description
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White Avens is a native pernnial groundcover in the rose family. It is typically found in woodlands and thickets in the eastern 2/3 of North America including Canada. The plants will grow 1.5 to 2.5 feet tall and bloom in early to late spring into early summer.
The plant prefers partial shade conditions in moist loam to clay loam soils and lower fertility. More sun is tolerated in moist conditions. The foliage is attractive all year and can be used as a ground cover. The plant usually blooms the second year with small white flowers that are attractive to pollinators. The seedheads have hooks that can attach to fur and clothes. It is often considered weedy and may best be used in naturalized and woodland settings. It can also be used in containers as background vegetation.
White avens could be used as a lawn alternative in an area with low foot traffic as it can be mowed to 4 inches. It is not a dense plant so it will not form a thick mat of vegetation. It prefers the shade but will tolerate sunny areas as well. It is deer and black walnut tolerant.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Geum
- Species:
- canadense
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern 2/3 of North America
- Distribution:
- AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY
- Wildlife Value:
- A variety of pollinators are attracted to the flowers
- Edibility:
- The boiled roots are a chocolate substitute
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A round cluster of green achenes are about 3/4 inch across and mature to brown. The persistent styles are hooked at their tips allowing them to catch onto fur and clothes.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1/2" white flowers with 5 rounded petals and 5 pointed green sepals and numerous stamens that surround a dome-shaped center of green carpels from early to late spring into early summer. They arise from the terminal stem in 1-3 groups and from the axis of upper stems.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves are produced in the spring in a 6-inch rosette with compound leaves with 3-7 leaflets and long petioles. The lower stem leaves are usually compound with 3 leaflets and the upper leaves are usually simple and alternate. Leaves are up to 4 inches long and 3 inches wide and are variable in shape. Leaves get smaller as they go up the stem with shorter or no petioles. There is a strawberry leaf-like structure at the base of the petiole. Both sides of the leaves may have a few hairs. Margins are serrated and often divided into 3 lobes.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Round green upper stems are pubescent, while the lower stems are often brownish green and coarsely hairy
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
