Geum rivale L.
Fjalldalafífill
Water avens is a native perennial of the rose family, found through much of the British Isles though scarcer in the drier south-east. It is instantly recognisable by its nodding, bell-shaped flowers, which droop from slender, often purple-tinged stems.
About
Water avens is a native perennial of the rose family, found through much of the British Isles though scarcer in the drier south-east. It is instantly recognisable by its nodding, bell-shaped flowers, which droop from slender, often purple-tinged stems. Each bloom combines dusky maroon-purple sepals with soft, peach-pink to orange petals and a boss of yellow stamens, giving a subtle two-tone effect; the divided, slightly wrinkled basal leaves form a low rosette.
It favours damp, poorly drained neutral to acidic soils and is typical of wet meadows, marshy grassland, riverbanks, ditches and shady wet woodland, from the lowlands up into the hills. Flowering from May into September, the flowers are worked by bumblebees and other long-tongued insects. It earns its place in damp borders, streamsides and pond margins, where it can naturalise gently; note that it readily hybridises with wood avens (Geum urbanum) where the two grow together.
Also known as
Purple Avens · Water Avens · chocolate-root
Synonyms
Anemone decapetala · Anemone decaphilla · Anemone dodecaphilla · Bernoullia hybrida · Bernoullia nutans · Bernoullia rivalis · Bernullia hybrida · Bernullia rivalis · Caryophyllata aquatica · Caryophyllata nutans
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.