This group consists of two hardy, creeping plants native to North America, Europe and Asia. Commonly known as Mountain Avens, these dwarf perennials are suitable for growing in the rock garden, scree, over paving, and the top of stone walls. They have crinkled, evergreen, oak-like, glossy dark green leaves that are grayish-green underneath. Dryas octopetala (Mount Washington Dryad) is a mat-forming variety that produces tons of cup-shaped, white flowers centered with golden yellow stamens. Each flower grows atop a 3-inch stalk and is clasped by long, green sepals. The flowers are produced from late spring to early summer and are followed by silky tassels of seed heads that change to balls of fuzz. Dryas suendermannii (Suendermann Dryad) has larger, more erect leaves and white, nodding flowers in late spring or early summer.

Mountain Avens should be grown in equal parts of loam and peat or leaf mold with crushed lime rubble added. These plants flower the best and are more compact if the are grown in poor, gravelly, but moist soil.

Cuttings may be inserted in flats of sandy soil in the summer, or seeds may be sown in light, finely sifted soil in the spring. The cuttings or seeds should be placed in a cold frame.

Dryas octopetala;
Dryas suendermannii.