Geum ('Goldball') 'LADY STRATHEDEN'

Avens is a pretty perennial whose wild forms can be found on every continent except Australia. Geum chiloense comes from Chile, surprisingly, and offers larger flowers of pretty colours. However, as it is less reliable in continental climate of Central Europe, it is often crossbred with native species in order to extend it hardiness and for better garden performance.

Lady Stratheden, aka Goldball, is a hybrid Chilean avens with rich golden yellow flowers. They are semi-double, 3-4,5 cm across, and open frm as early as late May atop 40-60 cm tall stems. If regularly dead-headed, strong plants continue producing stems with more flowers until late summer, without deadheading it blooms for about two months.

Basal leaves are rounded, shallowly toothed, fresh green, and quite showy, while pinnate leaves along the stems are small and rather insignificant. Basal leaves can make a nice groundcover in mass plantings and are semi-evergreen in mild winters. These avens hybrids are prolific bloomers and are suited for both city landscapes as well as country gardens.

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 min -25°C (USDA zone 5b).

Last update 08-10-2019