Bright petticoats
Geum’s are commonly known as Avens, these plants belong to the Rosaceae family and there are around 50 species within the group and many hybrids. They are wide spread across the world from Europe to South Africa and the Americas, New Zealand and Asia.
Most of the hybridizations are between Geum Rivale – nodding, Chiloensis – yellow, Quelyon – red and coccineum – orange.
We have two in the British Isles, these are the wood avens Geum urbanum, a fairly nondescript plant in our woodlands with very small yellow flowers and gardens and seeds prolifically everywhere and water avens, up to 8 inches in flower with nodding flowers with dusky red sepals in partial shade or full sun in damp or moist areas. The wood avens as far as I know has not been hybridized but Geum rivale has been with already above-mentioned species. From these hybridizations there are many varieties but leonard’s variety, lemon drop are the most notable. I also think that Bellbank and pink petticoats are also related to Geum rivale in their ground hugging growth habit.
There are now many wonderful hybrids available and more seem to appear every year. They are predominately in Yellows, Reds and Oranges.
Here is a few notable ones,
Geum Scarlet tempest, a pretty compact plant producing flowers on foot high stems with semi double scarlet flowers. I have this one in my garden and I can say that it had had flowers on this plant for over 8 months of the year. There is also Geum Firey tempest with semi double flowers and I’m waiting to see if it has as longer flowering period. I also gather that Geum Rubins also can flower for 9 months or longer
Geum totally tangerine, a plant growing up to 14 inches in flowers. It had coppery single flowers again over a long period of time.
Geum Hill top beacon, another tall flowering variety making compact clumps and again has coppery coloured flowers and over a long period of time.
Some shorter varieties growing up to 8 inches like Geum cosmopolitan – semi double pinky flowers, also Geum pink bubbles a darker pink double, Geum boresii – single bright orange.
I was in a garden centre the other day and saw a gorgeous completely double orange variety Geum orange pumpkin.
All are Geum’s are herbaceous perennials and most are grown from division. They should be dug up and divided every three years to keep their vigour. Dig up clumps divide and place back in pots or in the ground with added garden compost or organic matter and keep watered till have re-established.
There are two varieties that can easily be grown from seed and these being Geum Lady Stratheden – semi double yellow and Geum Mrs Bradshaw – semi double red. Collect seed every three years, once seed turns brown. Sow immediately. Grow what you need and plant out when large enough.
All Geums grow in sull sun or semi shade sites in humus rich soils.
Below is a gallery of pictures relating to May
