Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum)
Geum aleppicum, commonly known as Yellow Avens, is a native perennial wildflower found in moist meadows, prairies, woodlands, and along streambanks throughout Illinois. It thrives in well-drained, moist to moderately dry soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom from late spring to mid-summer, attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its leaves are deeply lobed and resemble those of other Geum species. After flowering, the plant produces distinctive, bur-like seed heads that disperse easily by clinging to fur and clothing. Geum aleppicum typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet with an upright, slightly sprawling growth habit.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Geum aleppicum is an excellent choice for naturalized gardens, woodland edges, and prairie plantings. It provides important nectar for pollinators and serves as a host plant for butterfly larvae. Its fibrous root system helps with erosion control, making it a beneficial plant for stabilizing soil along slopes or waterways. This hardy and adaptable species adds bright seasonal color and ecological value to native plant gardens.
Geum aleppicum, commonly known as Yellow Avens, is a native perennial wildflower found in moist meadows, prairies, woodlands, and along streambanks throughout Illinois. It thrives in well-drained, moist to moderately dry soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom from late spring to mid-summer, attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its leaves are deeply lobed and resemble those of other Geum species. After flowering, the plant produces distinctive, bur-like seed heads that disperse easily by clinging to fur and clothing. Geum aleppicum typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet with an upright, slightly sprawling growth habit.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Geum aleppicum is an excellent choice for naturalized gardens, woodland edges, and prairie plantings. It provides important nectar for pollinators and serves as a host plant for butterfly larvae. Its fibrous root system helps with erosion control, making it a beneficial plant for stabilizing soil along slopes or waterways. This hardy and adaptable species adds bright seasonal color and ecological value to native plant gardens.
Geum aleppicum, commonly known as Yellow Avens, is a native perennial wildflower found in moist meadows, prairies, woodlands, and along streambanks throughout Illinois. It thrives in well-drained, moist to moderately dry soils and prefers full sun to partial shade.
This plant features bright yellow, five-petaled flowers that bloom from late spring to mid-summer, attracting a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its leaves are deeply lobed and resemble those of other Geum species. After flowering, the plant produces distinctive, bur-like seed heads that disperse easily by clinging to fur and clothing. Geum aleppicum typically grows to a height of 2 to 3 feet with an upright, slightly sprawling growth habit.
For Illinois native plant enthusiasts, Geum aleppicum is an excellent choice for naturalized gardens, woodland edges, and prairie plantings. It provides important nectar for pollinators and serves as a host plant for butterfly larvae. Its fibrous root system helps with erosion control, making it a beneficial plant for stabilizing soil along slopes or waterways. This hardy and adaptable species adds bright seasonal color and ecological value to native plant gardens.
Bloom: summer
Habitats: meadows; open woods; pastures; roadsides; waste areas
Lifespan: perennial
Moisture: wet to mesic
Plant type (height): forb (up to 3 feet)
Requirements: full sun to partial sun
Soil: well-drained