Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Dryas drummondii (Drummond's mountain-avens)
Weyand, Phyllis

Dryas drummondii Richards. ex Hook.

Drummond's mountain-avens, Yellow mountain-avens, Yellow dryas

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

USDA Symbol: DRDR

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

This slow-growing perennial forms mats up to 3 ft. wide and 8 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 petal 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.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AK , ID , MT , OR , WA
Canada: 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
USDA Native Status: L48(N), AK(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Well-drained, sandy or gravelly soils.
Conditions Comments: Not Available

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Description: Mountain dryas can be propagated by seed or root divisions. Make divisions in early spring. Seeds are slow and not too sure.
Seed Collection: Not Available
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.

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Dryas drummondii in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Dryas drummondii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Dryas drummondii

Metadata

Record Modified: 2008-07-16
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back