Yellow Avens
Geum aleppicum
Last reviewed: August 2026
Geum aleppicum, or yellow avens, is a forb that blooms from May through August with small five-petaled yellow flowers, growing in moist meadows, thickets, and along stream banks favored by bees and beetles.
Toxicity unknown
Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum) 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.
Light
part sun
Water
medium
Size
12"–36" H × 6"–18" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug
Native to
AZ, CA, CO, CT and 29 more states
Pollinators
bees, beetles
Before you buy
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Yellow avens is a native perennial that produces bright yellow, five-petaled flowers from late spring through summer. This adaptable wildflower forms neat clumps with attractive divided foliage and thrives in partial sun with average moisture.
Growing Yellow Avens
Grow Yellow Avens in part sun and medium water. Mature plants reach 12 to 36 inches tall and spread 6 to 18 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.
In an HOA neighborhood
Yellow Avens takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Wild appearance may be considered weedy
- Informal growth habit lacks structured look
- May self-seed and spread beyond intended areas
Wildlife value
The cheerful yellow blooms attract various native bees and beetles throughout the long flowering season. Seeds provide food for small birds and wildlife.
Common questions
- When does Geum aleppicum bloom?
- Yellow avens generally flowers from May through August, producing clusters of small, five-petaled yellow blooms on branching stems.
- What pollinators visit Geum aleppicum?
- Bees and beetles are the most common visitors, attracted to the open, shallow yellow flowers that make pollen and nectar easy to access.
- What growing conditions suit Geum aleppicum best?
- This forb does well in part sun with consistently moist to medium soil moisture, often turning up in meadows, forest edges, and along streams in cooler temperate regions.
- What does Geum aleppicum look like?
- It is an herbaceous perennial with a basal rosette of toothed, divided leaves and slender upright stems topped with small yellow flowers followed by burr-like seed heads.
- Is Yellow Avens HOA-friendly?
- Yellow Avens takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). 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.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Yellow Avens? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
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