Geum (syn. 'Feuerball') 'Mrs BRADSHAW' Chilean avens

Avens is a pretty perennial whose wild forms can be found on every continent except Australia. Mrs. J.Bradshaw, formerly known as Feuerball, is a hybrid of geum chiloense with small but attractive, scarlet red, semi-double flowers that come out from early June, and, if regularly dead-headed, strong plants continue producing stems with more flowers until late summer.

Basal leaves are rounded, shallowly toothed, mid green, while stem leaves are pinnate. They can make a nice groundcover in mass plantings. Mrs. J.Bradshaw shows a sort of an understated beauty commonly found in cottage 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 about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 07-12-2013