By Mary H. Dyer, Master Naturalist and Master Gardener What is a mountain aven? Also known as alpine dryad or arctic dryad, mountain aven plants (Dryas integrifolia/octopetala) are ground-hugging, blooming plants that thrive in cold, sunny mountainous locations. The plant is primarily found in alpine meadows and rocky, barren ridges. This little wildflower grows in the western United States and Canada. Mountain aven flowers are found in the Cascade and Rocky mountains and are common as far north as Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Mountain aven is also the national flower of Iceland. Mountain Aven Facts Mountain avens consist of low-growing, mat-forming plants with small, leathery leaves. They root at nodes along the creeping stems, which makes these little plants valuable members of the ecosystem for their ability to stabilize loose, gravelly mountain slopes. This charming little plant is distinguished by small, eight-petaled blooms with yellow centers. Mountain
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