Wood avens is an evergreen perennial that grows up to 60 cm tall. It is found almost everywhere in Europe and in parts of Asia.
Wood avens prefers to grow in hedgerows and woodlands, and in the shade. Underground, wood avens grows from a rhizome. When crushed, it smells like cloves.
The leaves of wood avens are arranged at the base in a rosette. They are deep green and look a little like leaves of strawberry.
Slender, upright, nodding stems bear small, yellow flowers between May and August. They are hermaphrodite and scented; they have five-petals and a diameter of 1 to 2 cm. The flowers appear in loose clusters and are replaced by spiky seed heads with red hooks that can easily stick to passing animals.