Geum urbanum L.

Geum urbanum, also known as wood avens, herb Bennet, colewort, clove root and St. Benedict's herb, is a perennial plant in the rose family (Rosaceae), which grows in shady places in the temperate regions of Eurasia and North America.

Source: Wikipedia

Synonyms 43

Bernoullia media, Caryophyllata officinalis, Caryophyllata urbana, Caryophyllata vulgaris, Geum ambiguum, Geum caryophyllata, Geum caucasicum, Geum hederifolium, Geum hirtum, Geum hyrcanum, Geum ibericum, Geum klattianum, Geum pseudomolle, Geum robustum, Geum sordidum, Geum vicanum, Streptilon odoratum, Geum rivale subsp. urbanum, Geum klettianum var. semperflorens, Geum urbanum var. australe, Geum urbanum var. grandifolium, Geum urbanum var. hirsutum, Geum urbanum var. majus, Geum urbanum var. mauritanicum, Geum urbanum var. opulifolium, Geum urbanum var. orientale, Geum urbanum var. platylobum, Geum urbanum var. simplicifolium, Geum urbanum var. stenolobum, Geum urbanum var. strictum, Geum urbanum var. umbrosum, Geum × velenovskyi var. rubripetalum, Geum urbanum subvar. australe, Geum urbanum subvar. grandifolium, Geum urbanum subvar. hirtum, Geum urbanum subvar. opulifolium, Geum urbanum subvar. orientale, Geum urbanum subvar. robustum, Geum urbanum subvar. simplicifolium, Geum urbanum f. glandulosum, Geum urbanum f. hirtum, Geum urbanum f. mauritanicum, Geum urbanum f. robustum

1,046,543 GBIF occurrences
78,172 iNaturalist observations

Conservation status code

Conservation: status label

Least Concern

Conservation: population trend

Stable

Conservation: year assessed

2026

IUCN Red List page

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/203436/209218749

Habitats

Threats

IUCN: population narrative

This species is widespread and abundant throughout its range (Vandepitte et al. 2007). The population in the UK has remained stable (BSBI/BRC 2024).

IUCN: habitat narrative

Wood Avens are a perennial herb which grows on drained, mildly acid to calcareous soils and occurs along forest fringes, deciduous woodland, especially disturbed secondary woodland, scrub, hedgerows, meadows and disturbed open habitats, along fences, and as a weed in gardens (BSBI/BRC 2024, Castroviejo et al. 1998). Its wide distribution pattern suggests it has wide climatic tolerances, and photosynthesis and growth at high altitudes are directly linked to temperature (Taylor 1997).

IUCN: threats narrative

Overall, the species does not appear to be threatened. Vandepitte et al. (2007) reported that deforestation is affecting this species, as it primarily occurs in woodland and even where regeneration occurs, it has been found to be absent from successional patches younger than 50 years.

IUCN: conservation narrative

There are no conservation measures in place or needed. It is listed as Least Concern in France (UICN France et al. 2018), Luxembourg (Colling 2005), Denmark (NERI 2007, Aarhus Universitet 2019), Estonia (eElurikkus 2024), Germany (Ludwig and Schnittler 1996, Metzing et al. 2018), Norway (Artsdatabanken 2024), Switzerland (Moser et al. 2002, Bornand et al. 2016) and the United Kingdom (Cheffings and Farrell 2005). The species is represented by 200 germplasm accessions held at European institutions (EURISCO 2024) and is included in the living collection of at least 122 botanical gardens (BGCI 2024). It occurs in many protected areas, including Natura 2000 sites (UNEP-WCMC and IUCN 2024, GBIF.org 2024).

IUCN: rationale

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)This species is classified as Least Concern for both Europe and for the EU27 Member States due to its widespread distribution, stable populations and no major threats.

Geum urbanum L.

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