Dryas octopetala
Mountain avens, Mt Washington dryad, Wild betony
- Height × spread
- 0.1m × 0.3m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Flowers
- Summer
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a pretty little shrub with woody stems and light green leaves with rounded edges, somewhat like those of an oak tree, though the knobbly edges are less pronounced. The light green leaves have white tomentose on their underside. In the summer it produces small round creamy yellow flowers above the foliage. The flowers are followed by silken haired fruits which last into winter. This ground hugging plant follows the contours of the earth, smoothing its way over small rocks in an attractive manner, and it makes a good plant for the rock garden. It likes gritty peaty soil that is always moist, though can survive on chalk. The site should be sunny. It stands around 5cm high with a spread of up to 1m (3ft).
- Flower colour
- Yellow
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- White
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Dome
- Height
- 0.1m
- Spread
- 0.3m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Summer
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Rock garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun
- Soil type
- Chalk, Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- Alkaline, Neutral
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Colder than -20C (RHS H7)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Use for
- Ground cover
- Hazards
- No
- Pet safe
- Yes – listed in our pet-safe plants
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Spring - early-mid · Planting
Divide when too large
The plant can be divided if it becomes too large or another plant is required. This may involve physically dividing the clump in two, removing offsets or small bulbs or dividing rhizomes. The new plants can be grown in pots or planted in the ground.
Planting & general
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.