Practical
Plants

Dryas octopetala

Mountain Avens

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Dryas genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Dryas
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
moderate
Height
0.1 m
Spread
1 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[7][3][12][4].

Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The entire plant, harvested just before or at flowering time is astringent and digestive[13]. An infusion is used as a stomach tonic, and also as a gargle for treating gingivitis and other disorders of the mouth and throat[13].

Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Digestive

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant makes a good ground cover for spring bulbs, though it is not strongly weed suppressive[8]. Slow-growing at first, it then forms a dense mat[6]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way and they form a carpet, the branches rooting at intervals along the stems[9].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Arctic and sub-arctic Europe, Asia and America. Mountains in south Europe, including Britain.
Habitat
Rocky places and high pastures[3], especially on limestone rocks[1].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 2+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown in pots a shady cold frame or sheltered place outdoors as soon as it is ripe[8]. Stored seed requires stratification and should be sown as soon as possible. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 12 months or more at 20°c[8]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of self-layered shoots in early spring[1][8]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in sharp sand in a frame[1][8].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Easily grown in ordinary gardening soil[1][2], preferring a sunny position[11]. Prefers limestone soils[1]. Prefers a gritty well-drained peaty soil[5]. A sub-shrub, producing annual stems from a woody base[2][8]. A good plant for a rock garden[1], it succeeds on banks and on walls[5]. A very ornamental plant[1]. The sub-species D. octopetala hookeriana has been shown to produce nitrogen nodules on its roots due to a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, in the same way as peas and beans[10]. It has been assumed here that the species type can also do this[K]. Some of the nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[8]. Established plants strongly resent root disturbance[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-600-33545-3

    ↩1↩2

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

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  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  6. Royal Horticultural Society. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-304-31089-1

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  7. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  8. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  9. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩

  10. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

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  11. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

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  12. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  13. Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn 1981-00-00 ISBN 0-600-37216-2

    ↩1↩2

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