Geum rivale Album

The 'Album' Avens stands out from the species by its pendulous cream-white flowers with light pistachio green calyxes, which are very bright and of smaller dimensions. Native to wet environments in our region, the riverside avens thrives in rich, moist soils that can even tolerate temporary immersion and full sun, as long as the soil remains moist. Its foliage forms a rosette of hairy, deeply lobed leaves that gather in a dense tuft, with an upright habit, ideal for creating borders. Easy to grow, this perennial with its original colour and wild charm can soften and invigorate beds, borders, or pond edges.

Originating from Europe and Asia and belonging to the Rosaceae family, Geum rivale is a hardy herbaceous perennial, hardy down to -15 °. It is found in wet places, especially in the mountains. From May to July, it bears graceful bell-shaped flowers, timidly inclined, measuring 3cm (1in) in diameter, on light green pubescent stems. They produce plume-like dry fruits covered in bristles that catch the light. Its semi-evergreen leaves, of a beautiful medium green colour and lyre-shaped, are deeply lobed and toothed, with a larger trilobed terminal leaflet. It has an upright habit, reaching a height of 30cm (12in) and a width of 20cm (8in). Its basal tuft grows from rhizomes, allowing it to effectively serve as ground cover.

It thrives in full sun or partial shade, in slightly acidic to calcareous, moist to humid, humus-rich, and well-drained soil. In ideal conditions, it self-seeds spontaneously.

This elegant plant, with its subtle colours, integrates well into cottage gardens as well as into the Cottage style. Why not also try it in a more contemporary bed, where it will work wonders with the black of the 'Black Barlow' Columbine and the 'Blackfield' Persicaria. It also fits very well along pond edges and pond borders. In a fresh rock garden, combine it with carpets of lady's mantle, rock cress, and bugleweed. Its light green colour allows it to be paired with any other colour. It enhances the warm tones of red hot pokers, Crocosmias, and Coreopsis, as well as the cooler tones of geraniums and Penstemons. In a monochrome white bed, it demonstrates exceptional refinement.

The roots are aromatic and edible, with a taste between liquorice and cloves. Native Americans use them to make a drink that resembles hot chocolate. They are used in medicine, like in Geum urbanum, for their astringent, anti-inflammatory, and febrifuge properties.