Water avens

Geum rivale

Water avens is a perennial for edging, mid-border, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or moist ground, flowering May, Jun, Jul.

Where to use it in a border

At around 45 cm, it sits best along the front edge, where a low, spreading habit reads best. Give it about 35 cm of room to spread, roughly 3 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 3a to 7b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.

It appears in our lists of full sun, clay soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.

Border Builder uses Water avens's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.

Flowering through the year

Worth knowing

• It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
• Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.

Good companions

Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:

• Anise/Blue Sagefor height behind it
• Atamasco Rain Lilyto edge in front
• Bearberryto edge in front
• Black Cohoshfor height behind it
• Blackthornfor height behind it
• Blue Mistflowerto edge in front

Garden styles

Native Wildlife garden Woodland