APPEARANCE
White mountain aven is a short evergreen shrub, up to 15 centimetres tall. It has small shiny leaves with wavy and toothed edges that are furry underneath. The flowers are white with eight petals and a yellow centre.
RANGE & HABITAT
In B.C. they are only found near the Yukon border, but they are also found throughout the Arctic and tundra from Alaska to Labrador and around the Northern hemisphere. Mountain avens like rocky sites, especially limestone rocks and spots where other plants can’t grow.
LIFE CYCLE
The white flowers turn into fuzzy seed heads, but they spread mostly by their roots.
ANIMAL USES
Not many animals graze on this plant, but a deer or sheep might take a bite.
TRADITIONAL USES BY INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
The flowers and seeds heads can make a bright green dye.
OTHER USES
Gardeners grow them for rock gardens.
STATUS
COSEWIC: Not at Risk
CDC: Yellow
MORE INFORMATION
Photo: Kari Pihlaviita
More Northern Boreal Mountain species
