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Dryas drummondii
Dryas drummondii Richardson ex Hook.
Drummond's Mountain-avens, Yellow Mountain-avens, Yellow Dryas
Rosaceae (Rose Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: DRDR
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
This slow-growing perennial forms mats up to 3 ft. wide and 9 in. tall. The mats appear to be a mass of oval, leathery leaves with rounded teeth. The leaves remain dark green during winter but deteriorate rapidly as new leaves are produced in spring. Single, yellow flowers are borne atop 2-8 in. stems. The petals ascend, rather than spread, in flower; the result is that the flowers never seem to fully open. Summer fruits are fluffy and feathery.
The species name of this plant is named for Thomas Drummond, (ca. 1790-1835), naturalist, born in Scotland, around 1790. In 1830 he made a trip to America to collect specimens from the western and southern United States. In March, 1833, he arrived at Velasco, Texas to begin his collecting work in that area. He spent twenty-one months working the area between Galveston Island and the Edwards Plateau, especially along the Brazos, Colorado, and Guadalupe rivers. His collections were the first made in Texas that were extensively distributed among the museums and scientific institutions of the world. He collected 750 species of plants and 150 specimens of birds. Drummond had hoped to make a complete botanical survey of Texas, but he died in Havana, Cuba, in 1835, while making a collecting tour of that island.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Achene , Aggregate
Size Notes: Up to about 9 inches tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Aggregated achenes.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep
Distribution
USA: AK , ID , MT , OR , WACanada: BC
Native Distribution: AK, s. to all but s.w. B.C.; Rockies to MT; Pend Oreille Co., WA; Wallowa Co., OR; scattered e. in Canada
Native Habitat: High mt. rocky ridges, talus slopes & stream banks; occasion on gravel bars of foothills
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: High
Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils.
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesPropagation
Description: Mountain dryas can be propagated by seed or root divisions. Make divisions in early spring. Seeds are slow and not too sure.Seed Treatment: Cold, moist stratification for several months substantially increases germination.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACU | FACU | FACU |
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Dryas drummondii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Dryas drummondii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dryas drummondii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-07Research By: TWC Staff