Geum macrophyllum
Tall, hairy-stemmed perennial with very large lyrate basal leaves and yellow five-petaled flowers in a multi-flowered cyme, thriving in damp meadows, beaches, and roadsides across North American boreal regions and blooming in early July.
Common Names
Large-leaved Avens
Summary
Large-leaved avens is a perennial herb native to North America with a short rhizome and tall stems; basal lyrate leaves bear a large terminal leaflet, while cauline leaves are three-lobed; bright yellow flowers appear in an open inflorescence, and fruits form as achenes on a pubescent receptacle.
Growing conditions prefer moist, well-drained soil with full sun to partial shade; propagation is by division or seed, and direct sowing after last frost is possible; the plant self-sows and may require deadheading to reduce volunteers; it serves as ornamental ground cover and erosion control and attracts pollinators such as butterflies, moths, and honey bees; habitats include moist woods and meadows.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
12 inches - 3.5 feet
Spread
12-15 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3b-8b
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun (6–12 hours direct sunlight per day); tolerates partial sun or partial shade
Soil Type
Loamy, moist-to-wet soil, pH 6.1–7.5
Soil Drainage
Moist soils
Soil pH
6.1-7.5, Mildly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer
Foliage Color
Green
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Slow
Seasons of Interest
Spring and Summer
Propagation Methods
Seeds and Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies and other pollinators
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Willd.
- Publication
- Enum. Pl. Hort. Berol. 2: 557 (1809)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Geum
Inferior Taxa
Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum
Synonyms
Geum japonicum Geum japonicum var. fauriei Geum japonicum var. fauriei Geum macrophyllum subsp. macrophyllum