When does White Avens bloom?

White Avens typically flowers from May through July, producing small white blossoms on branching stems.

What light and moisture conditions does White Avens need?

This forb grows best in part shade with medium, evenly moist soil, though it can tolerate a range from part sun to fuller shade depending on site conditions.

What insects visit White Avens flowers?

Bees and beetles are commonly seen visiting the small white flowers to collect pollen and nectar.

Is White Avens an evergreen plant?

No, White Avens is deciduous. It dies back in autumn and resprouts from its base the following spring.

What type of plant is White Avens?

It is a herbaceous forb, not a woody shrub or grass, and it grows in clumps with a low basal rosette of leaves before sending up flowering stems.

Is White Avens toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag White Avens as toxic to livestock.

Is White Avens HOA-friendly?

White Avens is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

White Avens

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Geum canadense

Last reviewed: August 2026

Geum canadense is a forb that blooms with small white flowers from May through July, growing well in part shade with medium moisture along woodland edges and meadow margins.

Toxicity unknown

White Avens (Geum canadense) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag White Avens as toxic to livestock.

Light

part shade

Water

medium

Size

12"–36" H × 12"–24" W

Bloom

May, Jun, Jul

Native to

AL, AR, CT, DE and 34 more states

Pollinators

bees, beetles

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

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White avens is a modest native perennial with small white flowers that bloom from May through July. It forms neat clumps with attractive green foliage and thrives in partial shade with average moisture.

Growing White Avens

Grow White Avens in part shade and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 12 to 24 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

White Avens is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Wildlife value

The small flowers attract native bees and beetles during the summer blooming period. Seeds provide food for small birds and wildlife.

Common questions

When does White Avens bloom?: White Avens typically flowers from May through July, producing small white blossoms on branching stems.
What light and moisture conditions does White Avens need?: This forb grows best in part shade with medium, evenly moist soil, though it can tolerate a range from part sun to fuller shade depending on site conditions.
What insects visit White Avens flowers?: Bees and beetles are commonly seen visiting the small white flowers to collect pollen and nectar.
Is White Avens an evergreen plant?: No, White Avens is deciduous. It dies back in autumn and resprouts from its base the following spring.
What type of plant is White Avens?: It is a herbaceous forb, not a woody shrub or grass, and it grows in clumps with a low basal rosette of leaves before sending up flowering stems.
Is White Avens toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag White Avens as toxic to livestock.
Is White Avens HOA-friendly?: White Avens is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

See all plant problem guides

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