Water Avens

Once in the Beekbergerwoud

Because of the large, nodding, bell-shaped flowers this very rare wild plant can still be seen fairly regularly – often planted as well as many diverse cultivars.

In the Netherlands there are two native species of avens: Geum urbanum (wood avens) with small yellow flowers, which is widespread in plantations and along the edge of woodland, and Geum rivale, the rare water avens, with its red-brown bell-shaped calyx. During the flowering period from May to June the petals curve back on themselves. The corrola is a light yellow. Two to three nodding flowers sit together. It is hairy, glandular plant that grows up to 50 cm in height.

The genus name, Geum, possibly comes from the Greek geuein (to try); rivale means ‘growing near streams’.

Ecology and habitat

Water avens thrives in shady places on generally wet, often moderately nutrient-rich, calcareous soil (sand, clay and peat). In deciduous woods (especially European bird cherry-ash forests), sometimes in grassland (hay meadows), near springs and along ditches and trenches, for example in areas where once wet deciduous woods grew, such as Beekbergerwoud in the Netherlands where the plant was once very abundant. This plant can be found in the northern Europe, Siberia and across North America.

Threat

Through felling and drainage of deciduous woodland and channelling stream valleys, this species has lost much of its habitat. In the remaining locations draining, top-dressing or the thickening up of woodland has negatively impacted the species well-being. Since 1950, 25-50% of the population has disappeared. The wild species is relatively simple to cultivate. Why the water avens has become so scarce in the wild, is not really understood.