The alpine forms, such as Geum coccineum, will struggle in heat and drought, so some shade and a cool location is essential cultivars of Geum rivale prefer shade or deep shade, and moisture underfoot. The large cultivars of Geum quellyon will do well in full sun or part shade, but they will not generally flower well in deep shade. If you can, site the plants according to the preferences of their parent species. As a group, these plants dislike drought, so improve soil as necessary with plenty of organic material, which should be lightly dug in or spread as a mulch. Plant in fertile, well-drained and moisture-retentive soil. Plant geums in late summer and autumn, or in early spring, when the ground is not dry or frozen. Most geums are long-flowering and will bloom anywhere from late spring and carry on flowering in late summer. In clumping cultivars of Geum quellyon, cutting out the flowering stems at the base when spent can stimulate a further flush of bloom. The low-growing Geum rivale types develop attractive seedheads so can be left on the plant. There is no need to cut back the plant itself, however, as the evergreen leaves are an attractive feature in their own right. Cultivars of Geum rivale can be divided when there are lots of conspicuous rhizomes spreading across the surface of the soil. When clumping Geum quellyon cultivars get woody and begin to deteriorate, lift the plant and immerse the root ball in a bucket of water, so it can be gently pulled apart. Methods of division vary according to the species. If more plants are required, plants can be divided as soon as they are sufficiently large and established. This will create lots of fresh new plants and prolong the longevity of the clone. Different varieties mature at different rates, so rather than adhering strictly to the idea of dividing every three to four years, keep an eye on the plant and divide it for maintenance purposes when it starts to look tired. Propagate plants by division in autumn and spring to conserve the named variety geums do not tend to come true from seed. How to grow geum How to divide and propagate geum © Getty Images There is a cluster in the Balkans, mainly alpines such as Geum coccineum, and another one in South America, including Geum quellyon, which are the ancestors of the big commercial cultivars.” "In the south there is Geum urbanum or wood avens, which grows in shaded copses, and in the north we have larger Geum rivale or water avens, which is found in damp and shady locations. “In the British Isles, there are two native species of geum," says Sue Martin, who now holds the UK’s only National Collection of Geum. The edible leaves and clove-scented roots have been used for brewing, baking and in medicinal tinctures to combat chills and catarrh – and even protect against plague. Geums are evergreen and resistant to pests and diseases - they are said to be slug, deer and rabbit resistant. Many geums attract bees and butterflies and also make good cut flowers. They are perfect for the front or middle of a border and can also be grown in pots. Geum flowers are typically orange, red or yellow, but also peach and pale pink. Hard-working and handsome, geums (also known as avens) are hardy perennials that come into bloom in late spring (they are often spotted in show gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show) and carry on flowering well until summer.
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