The best in class
Geums will show off till September – and one type really stands out
IN THE early 20th century, a keen gardener called John Bradshaw made an important horticultural discovery. One summer’s day he went into his garden in Southgate, North London, and inspected a tray of geum seedlings gifted to him by his friend Amos Perry, the owner of a worldfamous nursery and the man responsible for introducing 400 new plants during his lifetime.
As Bradshaw cast his eye over the flourishing batch of young plants, one stood out from the rest thanks to its striking semi-double, scarlet flowers with a central boss of yellow stamens. Introduced to the public in 1909 and an early recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society’s award of garden merit, it was named Mrs J Bradshaw after his wife Kathleen.
It might be 115 years since Bradshaw’s find but geum Mrs J Bradshaw is still making its presence felt from mid-May until September, when it produces a succession of blooms on 2ft tall stems above clumps of lobed leaves. Over the past century, some geums have disappeared and many more been introduced, yet this vintage performer remains in demand.
LIKE many gardeners, this variety was my entry point to geums, a group of hardy, clumpforming perennials with flowers in shades of white, yellow, orange and red. If it wasn’t Mrs B that was someone’s introduction to geums, the chances are it was Lady Stratheden, a golden yellow variety that’s been around for almost as long.
I have to admit, geums aren’t as flashy, dramatic or downright sexy as some summer-flowering perennials, but for bang for your buck, they are hard to beat. Their single, semi-double and double flowers are generally produced non-stop over summer, with some starting as early as mid-spring and continuing well into autumn.
Geums, or avens as they are also known, are part of the rosaceae family, making them a relation to a host of ornamental and edible plants, including apples and roses. They grow wild on every continent apart from Antarctica and thrive in a wide range of habitats.
Of the 50 or so known wild species, two are native to Britain. Geum rivale, or water avens, displays its dusky pink, bell-shaped flowers on 15in-tall stems – each bloom is held by a red, cup-shaped structure known as a calyx.
This beauty is more abundant in the north of Britain, while geum urbanum with its small yellow flowers is more widely distributed. The latter is sometimes called herb Bennet or St Benedict’s herb, a reminder of its past medicinal uses. The Romans made a tea from
its roots to protect themselves against evil spirits.
Our indigenous species are attractive, and geum rivale especially has provided breeders with genes to create some good-looking varieties. But the showiest forms are related to two species that arrived here in the 19th century – geum coccineum, from the Balkans, and geum chiloense, a species native to an island off Chile. Today, there are more than 200 geums available with new ones dropping regularly. Recent headturners include banana daiquiri and others in the cocktail series from the US. New for 2024, cor limey bears lime green flowers on 15in stems in May and June, with a second flush in autumn.
In the garden, most geums like moist, well-drained soil. Before planting check on its preference for light. As a general rule, those derived from geum chiloense like a warm, sunny spot, while varieties with geum coccineum in their genetic make-up like partial shade. geum rivale can cope with fairly boggy conditions and thrive in light to full shade. As far as I’m concerned, these perennials are essential for cottage gardens and wildlife-friendly displays, as their nectar-rich blooms are a magnet for bees and butterflies. Their compact nature makes them ideal for planting near the front of beds and along paths. For maximum impact, set plants in odd numbers, in groups of three or more.
Geums are largely trouble free. They are not prone to diseases and their leaves are usually left alone by slugs, snails and larger creatures. As they spread, clumps will die in the centre but plants can be kept in shape by dividing every three years – lift from the ground, split healthy growth into smaller sections, replant and water.