Avens

More than 50 species are known, distributed in the cold and temperate zones of the globe. Perennial rhizomatous herbaceous plants. Stems erect. Leaves lyrate-pinnate, arranged in a basal rosette; stem leaves ternate or three-parted. Flowers solitary or arranged in paniculate or corymb-like inflorescences. The fruit is an aggregate of achenes.

Location: light-loving, but can tolerate slight shade.

Soil: undemanding as to soil, but perform poorly in waterlogged and acidic soils.

Care: respond well to watering. Double-flowered forms are covered with leaves for the winter.

Propagation: by seed and by division of the clump. Clumps are divided in spring or autumn. The separated parts are planted, keeping a distance of 20 cm from each other. Seeds are sown in autumn or spring in trays in greenhouses or in open-ground beds. Seedlings are pricked out into trays or beds depending on where the sowing was carried out. They are planted to their permanent location in June–August or in the spring of the following year.

They look impressive in groups, borders and mixed plantings. Streamside avens is used to decorate the edge of a pond.