Avens is a perennial grown for its red blooms, which open in summer and return year after year. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 7 and shrugs off deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for native bees and butterflies.
Zones
5-7
pH Range
5.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Avens is
Avens grows as a perennial and reaches around two feet at maturity. It blooms red in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Avens
Avens grows in USDA zones 5 through 7. Avens does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
5-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
2 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Start the season right
Plant avens in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct sun, once the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed.
Match the soil
Avens prefers pH 5.5 to 7.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at its peak
Cut avens blooms in the cool of the morning, just as they open, for the longest display.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — avens isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Avens offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Avens thrives
Avens is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 7. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–7·Where Avens growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Avens can grow in these states:
See if Avens will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether avens actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Avens in my zone?
Avens grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Avens?
Most growers plant avens after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Avens need?
Avens needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Avens need?
Avens prefers soil pH 5.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Avens attract pollinators?
Yes — avens's flowers are a solid nectar source for native bees and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Avens safe for pets?
Avens is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.