It can self seed freely in garden beds but is generally not considered invasive.

Does it need full sun?

It prefers partial shade and performs best in dappled light.

Plant guide

Wood Avens.

Geum urbanum

Pronounced JEE-um ur-BAY-num

Also known as Bennet's-root, Herb bennet

Wood Avens is a charming woodland perennial that brings a touch of the forest floor to your garden. It produces small, bright yellow flowers and interesting hooked seeds that cling to passing animals. It is a hardy plant that thrives in shaded, naturalized areas.

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Perennial herb
Light: Partial shade to full shade
Indoor light: Medium light
Water: Every 3 to 7 days
Mature size: 60 cm
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to late summer

Care

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to mimic its native woodland habitat. Watch for wilting during dry spells, as this plant prefers steady hydration. It is quite resilient and generally avoids major pest issues.

Watering: Water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Feeding: Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer during the active growing season.
Pruning: Deadhead spent flowers to encourage a longer blooming period.
Repotting: Repot in early spring if the plant becomes root-bound.
Soil: Moist, well-draining, fertile soil
Soil pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline
Temperature: -20 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%

Safety

People: The plant is generally considered non toxic but should not be consumed without expert guidance.
Children: The small hooked seeds can easily stick to clothing and skin, which might be annoying but is not dangerous.
Contact allergens: The foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: Pollen may trigger mild allergic reactions in those prone to hay fever.
Edibility: While historically used in herbal medicine, this plant is not considered a common food source and should be avoided.

How to identify it

Small yellow five-petaled flowers
Pinnate leaves with large terminal leaflets
Hooked seeds that cling to fur
Hairy stems and foliage

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.2 to 0.4m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: yellow, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: brown, Late summer

Problems to watch for

AphidsCommon
Powdery MildewCommon
Slugs and SnailsCommon
Leaf SpotUncommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, division
When to plant: spring, autumn

Plant in groups to create a naturalistic woodland floor effect that suppresses weeds.

Grows well with

Foxglove · They share similar woodland edge requirements.
Wild Strawberry · They make excellent ground cover partners in shady spots.

Similar species

Water Avens · It is a close relative that prefers much wetter soil conditions.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Geum
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, North Africa, and parts of Western Asia.
Conservation: This plant is common and widespread throughout its native range and is not of conservation concern.

It grows in hedgerows and woodland margins where it relies on animal dispersal for its hooked seeds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, supports beneficial insects
Pollinators: bees, butterflies, beetles
Uses: medicinal garden, woodland border, pollinator habitat

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 4/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Is it invasive?: It can self seed freely in garden beds but is generally not considered invasive.
Does it need full sun?: It prefers partial shade and performs best in dappled light.

Where the name comes from

The name Geum comes from the Greek word for taste, referring to the aromatic roots, while urbanum refers to its presence near human settlements.

Good to know

It is commonly known as wood avens.
The hooked seeds are designed to hitch rides on passing animals to spread.
It thrives in the dappled shade of woodland edges.
The specific epithet urbanum means of the city, though it is more often found in wilder areas.

Also in

Plants for shade

Keep your wood avens growing

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.