Eightpetal Mountain-Avens
Dryas octopetala
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czechia-Slovakia, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, North Caucasus, Norway, NW. Balkan Pen., Poland, Romania, Russia, Spain, Svalbard, Sweden, Switzerland, Transcaucasus, Ukraine, United States
iNaturalist: © botanarchiste (iNaturalist #38704883)
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Dryas
- Species:
- Dryas octopetala
- USDA Symbol:
- DROC
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Shrub , Subshrub
- Height:
- 15 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- jun,jul,aug
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
- Ground Cover:
- Yes
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained calcareous soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in alpine and arctic conditions
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination and cold stratification. Germination can be erratic.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: For seeds, a 5 month cold, moist stratification is required. For cuttings, they should be recut at base to 7 cm lengths with 1/3 of basal leaves removed, then placed in a Domain fungicide bath for 2 minutes. 1000 ppm IBA rooting hormone is used before striking cuttings in sand:perlite rooting media.
Establishment: D. octopetala is a circumpolar species found from mid-montane to the alpine zone; from Alaska to the Rocky Mountains and Cascades, east to southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon, and east across Canada to Labrador, Asia and Europe. Germination for seeds is uneven and cuttings were overwintered directly in the mistbed.
Source: npn.rngr.net
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 4C for 3 weeks, then place @ 20C.