# avens (*Geum*)

Avens are pretty flowers that bloom in many colors like yellow and orange. They grow in gardens and fields, bringing joy to everyone who sees them.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Meadows

![avens](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Geum_coccineum2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Kurt Stüber \[1\], CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Geum_coccineum2.jpg)

## Appearance

The avens has cheerful five-petaled flowers, often in shades of yellow, orange, or red, sometimes with ruffled petals. Its basal leaves are typically deeply lobed or toothed, forming a low rosette. Some species have nodding blooms, adding a whimsical touch.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Geum

## Interesting facts

- Ancient people believed avens could protect them from bad luck and witches!
- Crush an avens root and it can smell just like cloves or cinnamon!
- Some avens flowers actually look like tiny, colorful wild roses!
- The leaves of some avens stay green all winter, even under the snow!

## Special abilities

- **Sticky Seed Traveler:** Avens produces seeds with tiny hooks that cling to fur or clothes, helping it spread far and wide.
- **Cold Weather Warrior:** Some avens species can withstand frosty conditions, staying green when other plants fade, thanks to robust roots.
- **Root Powerhouse:** Avens has strong rhizomes that help it slowly expand its territory and survive tough soil conditions.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-60 cm
- **Spread:** 20-40 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-4 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to mid-summer
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Collects nectar and pollen from avens flowers.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — Visits avens flowers for nectar and pollen.
- **Eats:** [meadow spittlebug](https://www.snappit.app/explore/meadow-spittlebug) (*Philaenus spumarius*) — Nymphs feed on avens sap, forming protective 'spittle'.

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick flowers without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify avens?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is avens?

15-60 cm

### How wide does avens spread?

20-40 cm

### How big are the flowers on avens?

1-4 cm

### When does avens bloom?

Late spring to mid-summer

### Is avens edible?

Yes

### Is avens toxic?

None

### What is avens's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Avens: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/avens)