Perennials > Dryas > Dryas octopetala > Dryas octopetala
Dryas octopetala
White Dryas, Mountain Avens
Origin: Mountains in the Northern hemisphere including Italy, Great Britain, and Poland.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Dryas octopetala is a great groundcover plant that retains its leaves year round. This ornamental plant is best known for the numerous flowers it produces making the plant of great ornamental value. Mountain Avens is usually planted in rock gardens, but is well suited in many places including creeping walls, along walkways and around the edges of patios or scale gardens.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Rosaceae |
| Genus |
| Dryas |
| Species |
| octopetala |
| Category |
| Perennials |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 6b - 6a |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 6a - 6b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Height |
| 10 cm |
| Spread |
| 1 m |
Photographs
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Cultivars
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Awards
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Dryas octopetala is a ground cover evergreen that is very mat-like. The plant is best known for the white flowers that usually appear in July or August. |
| Landscape |
| Dryas octopetala is usually planted in rock gardens as a ground cover. Plant them approximately 30 cm apart in order for the plant to form a continuous mat. The plant is also known for growing up walls. |
| Cultivation |
| Dryas octopetala can grow in many different soil types and pH levels, but requires full sun and moist soils. |
| Shape |
| Dryas octopetala is a low growing, ground cover plant that resembles a mat. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Easily identified as a low growing ground cover that has flowers, each with eight white petals. The leaves have toothed margins and they have a white underside. The leaves are similar looking to Oak leaves. |
| Pests |
| There are no serious pests or diseases. |
| Habitat |
| This ground cover plant is usually planted in rock gardens and it likes to grow on limestone rocks. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Flower buds on Dryas octopetala have black hairs on the sepals and are approximately 1 cm. |
| Leaf Description |
| The leaves have toothed margins and a white underside which are very similar looking to Oak leaves. |
| Flower Description |
| The flowers have eight petals that are a creamy white in colour. The filaments are yellow and the whole flower grows approximately 5 cm above the foliage. |
| Fruit Description |
| The fruit is approximately 2-3 cm. It is an indehiscent achene. The feathery tail helps with the distribution of seeds. |
| Colour Description |
| Dryas octopetala’s leaves are a rich dark green colour with a white underside. |
| Texture Description |
| This low growing perennial is medium textured. |
| Notable Specimens |
| There are many specimens of Dryas octopetala on the Tatra Mountains in Poland and in Inchndamph, Highland, Great Britain. |
| Propagation |
| When the seeds are ripe, they should be sown in pots in a cold frame or under a covered area outdoors. If the seed is stored it needs to be stratified in a moist, cold area. Germination occurs from 1-12 months. For the first year, grow them in a greenhouse. When they are ready for their permanent positions, plant them just after the last expected frost. |
References
Mellor, A. Evelyn. The seedling structure of Dryas octopetala. London: A. Brown & Sons, 1911. Print.
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