Geum rivale

What to Eat

Edible parts: Roots - drink, Roots - spice, Leaves, Flowers, Nectar

The dried or fresh root can be boiled in water to make a delicious chocolate-like drink and also works as a seasoning. It is best harvested in spring or autumn but can be used year-round. Fragrant and aromatic, it was once used to flavour ales.

Where to Find It

It grows in northern temperate regions. It prefers cool moist soils. It grows in wet places. In western China it grows between 1,200-2,300 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 3-9.

Arctic, Asia, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Canada, Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Estonia, Europe, Iceland, Luxembourg, Mongolia, North America, Norway, Russia, USA, Scandinavia, Siberia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye,

How to Identify

A small herb. It grows 25-30 cm high. It has robust roots. The leaves at the base are harp shaped and with leaflets. They are 10-35 cm long. The leaves are like strawberry leaves. The flowers are dull purplish-pink. Some garden cultivated varieties have been developed.

How to Grow

Easily grown in any moderately good garden soil that is well-drained. Easily grown in a moist or shady border. Prefers a soil rich in organic matter. Prefers a base rich soil. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus, especially with G. urbanum. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value.

Propagation: Sow seed in spring or autumn in a cold frame. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in summer. Divide plants in spring or autumn, every 3–4 years, to maintain vigour. Larger clumps can be replanted directly into permanent positions, while smaller clumps are best potted up and grown on in a cold frame until rooting well, then planted out in spring.

Medicinal Uses

The root is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, aromatic, astringent, diaphoretic, febrifuge, stomachic, styptic, and tonic. An infusion taken internally treats diarrhoea (and is suitable for children), intestinal and stomach complaints, and liver disorders. Applied externally as a wash, it is said to remove spots, freckles, and eruptions from the face. This plant has similar properties to the related G. urbanum but is less active and so is seldom used medicinally. The root is best harvested in spring when it is most fragrant. Much of the fragrance can be lost during drying, so the root should be dried with great care and stored in a cool, dry, airtight container, then sliced and powdered only when needed. The root is rich in tannin and is a powerful astringent.

Other Uses

The dried root repels moths. Plants make suitable ground cover when spaced about 30cm apart each way; the cultivar 'Leonard's Variety' is best for this purpose.

Geum rivale, the water avens, is a flowering plant in the genus Geum within the family Rosaceae. Other names of the plant are nodding avens, drooping avens, cure-all, water flower and Indian chocolate. It is native to the temperate regions of Europe, Central Asia and parts of North America, where it is known as the purple avens. It grows in bogs and damp meadows, and produces nodding red flowers from May to September.

Notes

There are about 40 Geum species.

More from Rosaceae

Acaena anserinifolia

Bidgee widgee, Buzzy, New Zealand Bur

No photo

Acaenia anserinifolia - (J.R.Forst.&G.Forst.)Druce.

Pirri-Pirri Bur

Adenostoma sparsifolium

Red shanks, Ribbonwood

Agrimonia eupatoria

Agrimony, Salt and Pepper

Agrimonia odorata

Adour agrimony, Liver-wort

Agrimonia pilosa

Indian chestnut, Agrimony