Geum

( JEE - um )

At-A-Glance Information

Also called Avens, this perennial flowering plant requires partial shade in warmer climates and regular water. These flowers attract butterflies, and they produce rose-like flowers in orange, yellow and red from spring to late summer. Foliage is evergreen in most climates, and these plants are great when included in cut flower gardens, and make wonderful additions to borders.

Geum Species and Varietals

Geum grows best in zones 2-24, though this varies somewhat depending on the species. For more information, see the descriptions below. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Geum aleppicum (Yellow Avens, Common Avens)
These herbaceous perennials reach 3 feet tall when in bloom and have pinnate leaves. These plants grow naturally in forests and meadows, in river banks, and along roadsides in disturbed soil. Flowers are light 
Geum chiloense (Geum quellyon) (Scarlet Avens, Chilean Avens, Double Bloody Mary, Grecian Rose)
This native of Chile produces mounds of foliage 15 inches tall and 2 feet wide. 2-foot tall stems hold flowers in a variety of colors. Popular varieties are outlined below.
'Lady Stratheden'
Golden yellow double flowers.
'Mrs. J. Bradshaw'
Scarlet semidouble flowers.
'Totally Tangerine'
Warm orange blossoms.
'Alabama Slammer'
Semi-double deep orange flowers with red tips. 
'Georgenberg'
With light yellow-orange blooms.
Geum coccineum (Dwarf Orange Avens)
Native to the Balkans and Asia Minor, this species gets 12-20 inches tall and wide and produces red flowers. Varieties are outlined below.
'Borisii'
1 foot tall and wide with bright orange flowers.
'Cooky'
Compact grower with bright orange blooms. 
'Werner Arends'
Bright orange flowers on a compact plant.
'Red Wings'
Gets to 28 inches tall and has semidouble scarlet blooms.

Geum radiatum (Spreading Avens, Appalachian Avens, Cliff Avens)
This species is native to Tennessee and North Carolina, and is considered endangered. Flowers are yellow. These plants spread by rhizome, and produce rosettes of leaves. Stems can reach between 8 and 20 inches long.

​Geum 'Starker's Magnificum'
Grows to 1.5 feet tall and wide, and has double flowers that are tangerine-colored that bloom over a long period.

Geum urbanum (Wood Avens, Herb Bennet, Colewort, St. Benedict's Herb)
These woodland-loving herbaceous plants have thin, wiry stems and produce small yellow flowers. They reach between 8 and 24 inches tall when mature.

Caring for Geum

These flowers enjoy being planted in well-draining soil. Deadhead spent blooms to encourage repeat flowering over a longer season.

Propagation

Problems and Pests

Gallery

Camellias are great candidates to be grown as container plants on your patio.
A field of thea sinensis
Camellia hiemalis 'Shishi Gashira'

Videos

A video all about growing camellias successfully
Propagating camellias

Resources

Wikipedia: Geum
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 338 - 339, Geum
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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