Bloomipedia
Large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum)
Photo: Gavin Slater via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flower profile

Large-leaved avens

Geum macrophyllum

Large-leaved avens (Geum macrophyllum) is a flowering plant in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–July across the U.S.

Native in the lower 48

Large-leaved avens is a wildflower that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 2 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–July.

22states where USDA records it
2Bloomipedia state lists include it
7,022U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.

On our lists for: Alaska, Washington

Quick look

Geum macrophyllum, commonly known as largeleaf avens or large-leaved avens, is a perennial flowering plant native to Kamchatka, northern and central Japan, and North America, where it occurs from the Arctic south through the northern United States, extending along the Rocky Mountains to the Sierra Nevadas of California and as far south as Northwestern Mexico.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as an herb (forb) with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 22 states. USDA PLANTS
  • NatureServe lists it as native to Washington and Alaska. NatureServe
  • In Washington, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–July. iNaturalist
  • In Alaska, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in June–August. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as yellow. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as late spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 2 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 3,738 research-grade sightings of it in Washington, ranking #42 among the 187 flowers on our Washington list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 1,040 research-grade sightings of it in Alaska, ranking #44 among the 121 flowers on our Alaska list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (880 records)
Bloom time in the 2 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
WashingtonNativeApril–July3,738
AlaskaNativeJune–August1,040

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Washington.
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alaska.
Rare elsewhere
No other U.S. state ranks it S1, S2, SH or SX.

Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Can you eat it?

For peopleNot well documented

None of the sources we checked (NC State Extension (no page for this plant), USDA PLANTS) say whether it's edible or poisonous for people.

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records large-leaved avens in 22 states.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Washington counties with USDA records: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Clallam, Clark, Columbia, Cowlitz, Ferry, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Lincoln, Mason, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Spokane, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Walla Walla, Whatcom, Whitman, Yakima.

Alaska counties with USDA records: Aleutians East, Aleutians West, Anchorage, Bethel, Chugach, Copper River, Denali, Dillingham, Fairbanks North Star, Haines, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan Gateway, Kodiak Island, Lake and Peninsula, Matanuska-Susitna, Nome, North Slope, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Yakutat, Yukon-Koyukuk.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Large-leaved avens a low shade tolerance, low drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.0 to 7.0 and winter lows down to -33 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Low
Moisture use
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium, fine
Soil pH range
5.0 to 7.0
Minimum temperature tolerated
-33 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
100
Annual precipitation range
12 to 55 inches
Minimum root depth
12 inches
Salinity tolerance
None
Fertility requirement
Medium
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
Moderate
Active growth period
Spring and Summer
Fruit or seed
Brown · Summer to Summer
Can be propagated by
seed
Commercial availability
Routinely Available

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for GEMA4. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 320 counties across 22 states; the most are in Washington (35), Colorado (34), Oregon (32).

Other Geum on Bloomipedia (3): Prairie smoke, Ross' avens, Calthaleaf avens.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More Washington flowers

Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis)

Salmonberry

Rubus spectabilis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: March–May
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: May–July
Osoberry (Oemleria cerasiformis)

Osoberry

Oemleria cerasiformis

Native

🌼 Blooms in WA: February–April

Sources