Thursday 10 November 2016

FFF259 - GEUM 'LADY STRATHEDEN'

Geum commonly called avens, is a genus of about 50 species of rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants in the Rosaceae family, widespread across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, and New Zealand. They are closely related to Potentilla and Fragaria.

From a basal rosette of leaves, they produce flowers on wiry stalks, in shades of white, red, yellow, and orange, in midsummer. Geum species are evergreen except where winter temperatures drop below −18 °C. Geum species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the grizzled skipper.

The cultivars 'Lady Stratheden' (shown here), and 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The semi-double blooms of 'Lady Stratheden' are golden yellow, saucer-shaped and like magnets to bees. This hybrid of the Chilean native, Geum chiloense, is easily grown from seed and offers an airy, old-fashioned look to the summer garden. Throughout the year, this hardy, clump-forming perennial offers a low mound of fuzzy scalloped leaves. The foliage is evergreen in all but the coldest of winters.

The flowers are large, semi-double and rise from tall, well-branched, wiry stems. They first appear in late Spring, and if well cared for and deadheaded they will continue to bloom sporadically into Autumn. The blooms are followed by attractive fluffy seed heads. Avens grows best in full sun or partial sun with some afternoon shade. It manages well in average garden loam with ample drainage.

Plants can be short-lived if subjected to cold, wet soil conditions in Winter. Healthy clumps should be divided every three to four years. Popular and easy to grow, 'Lady Stratheden' is grown for its lovely, old-fashioned blooms, so it is a great candidate for cottage gardens or any informal perennials border. Its flowers also compliment garden fresh flower arrangements.

Join me for Floral Friday Fotos by linking your flower photos below, and please leave a comment once you have done so!
 ****If you take part in the meme, please show an active link back to this site on your own blog post!****

12 comments:

  1. Indeed I thought on a rose - a so called wild rose. It's a lovely yellow bloom. Interesting to read about.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Aha... I have to deadhead the Geum! My Geum is flowering for a short period, but from now on, I will deadhead it. Thanks for sharing this information. Groetjes Hetty

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think I know this flower, looking also at the leaves. Had to smile about the deadheading:) That's what I used to do with my roses.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello Nick,
    that's a wonderful blossom, I love it!
    Have a nice weekend,
    moni

    http://www.reflexionblog.de

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Nick,
    A wonderful flower, I love it.
    Have a nice weekend,
    Elke

    ReplyDelete
  6. Gorgeous! I've tried growing geums in my own garden, but they are finicky in Wisconsin

    ReplyDelete
  7. How beautiful!
    I have not seen this species yet.

    best regards

    Anne

    ReplyDelete
  8. The geum is very beautiful ! In my garden I have Iceflowers since one week.

    Greetings from Birgit

    ReplyDelete