Ontario Wildflowers website

Water Avens
Geum rivale

Water Avens (Geum rivale) Other common names: Purple Avens

French names: Benoîte des ruisseaux

Family: Rose Family (Rosaceae)

Group: Avens

Distinctive features: Grows in wet areas.

Similar species:
  •   Catlings Avens (Geum X catlingii) - Not in wetlands; flowers very different, yellow.

  •   White Avens (Geum canadense) - Not in wetlands; flowers very different, white.

  •   Wood Avens (Geum urbanum) - Not in wetlands; flowers very different, yellow.

  •   Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum) - Not in wetlands; flowers very different, yellow.


Flowers: Summer;  Red/Pink;  5 parts (petals)

Leaves: Alternate, Toothed

Habitat: Wet Areas

Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 228    Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 262    ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 368   

Native/Non-native: Native

Origin and Meaning of Names:
 Scientific Name: rivale: of creeksides


Photographs: 105 photographs available, of which 7 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.

Range Map is at the bottom of the page

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Water Avens flower.

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Looking inside the flower.

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Typical Water Avens leaf.

Water Avens (Geum rivale)

Seeds forming.


Range map for Water Avens (Geum rivale)

PLEASE NOTE: A coloured Province or State means this species occurs somewhere in that Province/State.
The entire Province/State is coloured, regardless of where in that Province/State it occurs.

(Range map provided courtesy of the USDA website and is displayed here in accordance with their Policies)