White Avens

White Avens (Geum canadense). An semi-evergreen plant that is native to the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. and most of eastern Canada. The perennial plants, which grow to 1 to 2.5 feet tall, have white flowers that are about .5 inch across, blooming from May through October.

The flowers have 5 snow white, nearly round petals. Accenting the petals are 5 pointy, soft green sepals. The sepals are of the same length or slightly shorter than the petals. They’re initially flat, pointing straight out, but curve downward with age.

The blossoms develop into seedheads with hooked seeds that will stick to animals fur or our clothing. Stick tight seeds that are a great way to disperse.

White Avens is a plant in the rose family, Rosaceae, and the flowers look much like flowers of some of the other members of that family. Blossoms of Strawberries, Blackberries, Raspberries, and even some of the native Roses have a similar look.

Published by

Brenda Clements Jones

Brenda is a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a Habitat Defender for Shenandoah National Park, and a devoted fan of Mother Nature. She lives in a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains near Shenandoah National Park, and hikes up to the higher elevations of her mountain often to see what nature is up to. Her constant hiking companion is a camera that captures nature as it unfolds through the seasons. It’s her goal to share the natural world around her through her photographs.