Geum plants
Geums are popular, hardy perennials, forming a compact matt of weed-suppressing, semi-evergreen foliage and producing delicate, single, bow-shaped flowers, in rich shades of yellows, reds and oranges from late spring through the summer. Reaching around 50cm tall, Geums are ideal for the front or middle of a flower bed or mixed border in full sun or dappled shade where they combine well with the complementary shades of primulas and hemerocallis. Cheerful and easy to grow, Geums are free-flowering with some varieties producing dangling, cup-shaped flowers while others stand tall to reveal perfect rosettes, all highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Commonly known as avens, Geums are trouble-free, happily spreading by underground rhizomes and resilient to pests and diseases, especially when grown in the border. Incorporate organic matter when planting to conserve moisture and dead head spent flowers to encourage fresh blooms.