# Eastern Mountain Avens (*Geum peckii*) The Eastern Mountain Avens is a beautiful plant that grows in rocky places. It has lovely yellow flowers that bloom in the spring and summer, making the mountains look bright and cheerful! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Mountain regions ![Eastern Mountain Avens](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mountain_avens_%28Geum_peckii%29_Close-up_%289228122125%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Gary Tompkins from Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire, USA, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mountain_avens_%28Geum_peckii%29_Close-up_%289228122125%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Mountain Avens is a small, low-growing perennial with vibrant yellow, cup-shaped flowers that bloom on reddish stems. Its deeply lobed, dark green leaves form a basal rosette, often turning reddish-bronze in cooler weather, making it distinct against rocky terrain. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Geum ## Interesting facts - It loves growing near melting snow patches, thriving on the extra moisture. - Its seeds are tiny parachutes, helping them spread far on mountain winds. - The bright yellow flowers are like beacons for specific high-altitude bees. - This plant is a rare "glacial relict," left behind after ice ages! ## Special abilities - **Frost Fighter:** Eastern Mountain Avens can withstand freezing temperatures and strong winds because its low-growing, compact form protects it from harsh alpine weather. - **Rock Gripper:** Eastern Mountain Avens has strong, fibrous roots that anchor it firmly in thin, rocky mountain soils, preventing erosion and keeping it stable. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-20 cm - **Spread:** 10-20 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Yellow-banded Bumblebee (*Bombus terricola*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from its bright flowers. - **Eaten by:** Rock Vole (*Microtus chrotorrhinus*) — Small mammals like voles may occasionally graze on its leaves. - **Depends on:** [Peat Moss](https://www.snappit.app/explore/peat-moss) (*Sphagnum recurvum*) — Thrives in the acidic, waterlogged conditions created by this moss. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [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. - [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage. - [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. - [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. - [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick plants in nature to help them grow. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Mountain 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 Eastern Mountain Avens? 5-20 cm ### How wide does Eastern Mountain Avens spread? 10-20 cm ### How big are the flowers on Eastern Mountain Avens? 1-2 cm ### When does Eastern Mountain Avens bloom? Summer ### Is Eastern Mountain Avens edible? No ### Is Eastern Mountain Avens toxic? None ### What is Eastern Mountain Avens's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Mount Washington State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-washington-state-park) — New Hampshire, US · State Park ## 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*) --- Source: [Eastern Mountain Avens: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-mountain-avens)