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Common Name: Mountain Avens

General Information

Dryas octopetala is an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 0.10 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Arctic and sub-arctic Europe, Asia and America. Mountains in south Europe, including Britain.

Habitat

Rocky places and high pastures[], especially on limestone rocks[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	0.10 m
Growth Rate	Medium
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in ordinary gardening soil[, ], preferring a sunny position[]. Prefers limestone soils[]. Prefers a gritty well-drained peaty soil[].
A sub-shrub, producing annual stems from a woody base[, ]. A good plant for a rock garden[], it succeeds on banks and on walls[].
A very ornamental plant[].
The sub-species D. octopetala hookeriana has been shown to produce nitrogen nodules on its roots due to a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, in the same way as peas and beans[]. It has been assumed here that the species type can also do this[]. Some of the nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].
Established plants strongly resent root disturbance[].

Edible Uses

The leaves are used as a tea substitute[, , , ].

Medicinal

The entire plant, harvested just before or at flowering time is astringent and digestive[]. An infusion is used as a stomach tonic, and also as a gargle for treating gingivitis and other disorders of the mouth and throat[].

Other Uses

The plant makes a good ground cover for spring bulbs, though it is not strongly weed suppressive[]. Slow-growing at first, it then forms a dense mat[]. Plants should be spaced about 30cm apart each way and they form a carpet, the branches rooting at intervals along the stems[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown in pots a shady cold frame or sheltered place outdoors as soon as it is ripe[]. Stored seed requires stratification and should be sown as soon as possible. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 12 months or more at 20°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division of self-layered shoots in early spring[, ].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, mid summer in sharp sand in a frame[, ].