• A close-up of a Yellow Mountain Avens (Dryas drummondii) flower, with a bright yellow, nodding bloom framed by a fuzzy, reddish-brown calyx. The slender, softly hairy stem curves gently, giving the flower its signature drooping appearance.
  • A low-growing mat of Yellow Mountain Avens (Dryas drummondii), with dense, deeply lobed green leaves edged in soft bronze. Two fuzzy, red-tipped flower buds emerge from the foliage, waiting to unfurl into golden blooms.
  • A naturalized patch of Yellow Mountain Avens (Dryas drummondii) spreading along a rocky garden bed. Clusters of nodding yellow flowers, each backed by a ring of fine, reddish hairs, rise above the textured, serrated foliage.
  • The feathery seed heads of Yellow Mountain Avens (Dryas drummondii) catch the sunlight, their silky plumes swirling into delicate spirals. These wispy, golden seed clusters add a dreamy texture to late-season meadows and alpine landscapes.
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Wild About Flowers

Dryas drummondii - Yellow Mountain Avens

Dryas drummondii - Yellow Mountain Avens

$5.00 CAD
$5.00 CAD
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Yellow Mountain Avens is a hardy, ground-hugging perennial with bright yellow, buttercup-like flowers that bloom from late spring into summer. Its nectar-rich blooms attract native bees, butterflies, and hoverflies, making it an important early-season pollinator plant. The evergreen, leathery green leaves form dense mats that provide year-round ground cover and help stabilize soil on exposed slopes and disturbed ground.

With a creeping growth habit, Yellow Mountain Avens is ideal for rock gardens, alpine plantings, xeriscapes, and reclamation projects. It thrives in well-drained soils, tolerating drought, wind, and nutrient-poor conditions. As a key pioneer species, it is one of the first plants to colonize de-glaciated landscapes, landslides, and recently disturbed alpine soils. Its nitrogen-fixing roots help enrich the soil and support ecological recovery. Its tough, leathery foliage is generally unpalatable to deer and other herbivores, making it a reliable choice in browsing-prone areas.

How Easy Is This Plant to Grow?

Germination Difficulty: Beginner
Growing Difficulty: Intermediate
Speed of Growth: Slow
Age to First Bloom: 2-3

Plant Sizes & Blooming Window

Important Information - The "Plant Sizes" are provided as a general guideline for plant selection. The "Blooming Window" indicates the general period when the species is in bloom, not how long an individual plant will flower.

Plant growth and bloom times will vary depending on geographical location & individual site conditions. Please scroll down to see the specific information for this plant.

Edible & Medicinal Info Disclaimer

The Edible & Medicinal information on this site is for informational purposes only and should not be acted on without thorough research and professional guidance. We are not responsible for any adverse effects resulting from the use of or misidentification of plants.

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Plant Specifics

Seeds Per Pack

Seeds Per Package: 25

Light Conditions

  • Sun

Soil Conditions

  • Well Drained
  • Sandy
  • Gravelly
  • Dry

Height

  • Under 6"

Width

  • Mat Forming

Bloom Colour

  • Yellow

Month of Bloom

  • June
  • July

Vigorousness

  • Slow

Deer Resistance

Features

  • Butterflies
  • Bees
  • Attractive Seed Heads
  • Used as Groundcover
  • Urban Spaces
  • Rural Spaces
  • Medicinal Properties

Chinook Exposure

  • Fully Exposed

Distribution Info

In Canada, Yellow Mountain Avens is found from BC to MB, as well as in YT, NT, and NU and occurs in at high-elevation regions of the northwestern U.S.

Traditional Edible & Medicinal Info

Dryas drummondii leaf tea was used to ease stomach ailments and inflammation, while its astringent properties made it beneficial for skin treatments and wound healing. It is not considered toxic, but excessive consumption may cause digestive upset.