Geum 'Macgeu004' CORAL TEMPEST^®

Avens is a pretty perennial whose wild forms can be found on every continent except Australia. Scarlet avens comes from the Balkans and is cultivated for its compact growth and extremely long flowering period. As it is one of the hardiest geums it is commonly hybridized with more tender species in order to achieve showy flowers as well as the longest possible flowering season.

Large-flowered Avens Coral Tempest is a novelty from 2019 that follows a world-wide success of the preceding variety SCARLET TEMPEST, both bred by Elizabeth MacGregor from Scotland in order to achieve vigorous plants with extended flowering season. Its semi-double flowers are even bigger (5cm across), less scarlet and more salmon pink, yet keeping orange margins which are interestingly curved just like coral reefs. The centres are decorated with a crown of short yellow stamens. Stems are 30-50 cm tall and produce numerous flowers from late April until early to mid July, and then again in late summer. Basal leaves are oak-like, deeply lobed, bright green, and remain evergreen in mild winters. It looks especially good in mass plantings where its handsome foliage makes a great base for the exquisite orange flowers.

Avens is not picky about soil type. It does best in fertile, medium moist but well-drained soil in full sun. A little extra feeding will bring lush foliage but is not necessary for flower production – avens will always flower if grown in full sun. Hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 05-05-2019