Alphabetical Plant Listing

Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens)

Eightpetal Mountain-avens, Eight-petal Mountain-avens, White Mountain-avens, Mountain Dryas, Mountain Avens, Creeping Oak


Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens) is a slow-growing perennial forming a charming mat of small, glossy, oak-like leaves with white undersides. In early to mid summer, the foliage is covered with a profusion of relatively large, creamy-white flowers, 1.5 in. across (4 cm), adorned with 8 oblong petals. Reminiscent of miniature roses, they are borne atop erect, leafless flower stalks. The flowers track the movement of the sun across the sky during the day, a phenomenon called heliotropism. They are followed by woolly clusters of single-seeded achenes, each topped by long, silky-feathery white hairs. These hairs help spread the attached seed via the wind. The leaves remain green during winter but deteriorate rapidly as new leaves are produced in spring. Mountain Avens is useful for rock gardens, walls or border edges

  • Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society
  • Grows up to 2-8 in. tall (5-20 cm) and 36 in. wide (90 cm).
  • Best in full sun or light shade, in well-drained soils.
  • Great choice for rock gardens, edging or as a groundcover.
  • No serious pest or disease issues.
  • Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings.
  • Mountain Avensis a circumpolar species found in arctic tundra of northern Eurasia and North America, but also extending southward above tree line in the Cascades and Rocky Mountains to Washington, Oregon, Utah, and Colorado.

Buy Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens)

Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 6
Heat Zones 1 – 6
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 2" – 8" (5cm – 20cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
Garden Uses Edging, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage

Buy Plants


By Ren Kul, Wiert nieuman, Aleksander Hunta, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 3 – 6
Heat Zones 1 – 6
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Perennials
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Summer (Early,Mid)
Height 2" – 8" (5cm – 20cm)
Spread 2' – 3' (60cm – 90cm)
Spacing 36" (90cm)
Water Needs Low
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Plant of Merit, Showy, Evergreen
Native Plants United States, Alaska, Pacific Northwest, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Rocky Mountains, Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming
Garden Uses Edging, Ground Covers
Garden Styles Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage

Plant Calculator

How many Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Dryas octopetala (Mountain Avens)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.