- Plant avens properly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Properly cut clove root
- Pour the clove root
- Fertilize the avens properly
- hibernate
- Propagate clove root
- How do I plant correctly?
- Is clove root poisonous?
- Beautiful varieties
Where, in spring, distinctive cup-shaped blossoms float above lush green rosettes of leaves, the avens performs its floral magic. Geum flourish tirelessly in natural gardens, perennial beds and rock gardens well into autumn. Still have questions about cultivation on your mind? Then discover the answer directly from garden practice here.
The avens flowers inconspicuously but persistently
Table of Contents
Show all- Plant avens properly
- care tips
- Which location is suitable?
- What soil does the plant need?
- When is flowering time?
- Properly cut clove root
- Pour the clove root
- Fertilize the avens properly
- hibernate
- Propagate clove root
- How do I plant correctly?
- Is clove root poisonous?
- Beautiful varieties
- Water Geum regularly when there is not enough rain
- Cut back to the rosette of leaves in summer if rebloom is desired
- Fertilize organically before flowering begins and after pruning
- Light winter protection makes sense in the first two years and in the bucket
- Brook avens (Geum rivale): For moist pond edges without waterlogging
- Mountain avens (Geum montanum): For sunny locations with sandy, dry, well-drained soil
- Creeping avens (Geum reptans): The ideal ground cover for fresh, moist, nutrient-rich, lime-poor soil
- Red Avens (Geum coccineum): Thrives in any good garden soil and will tolerate brief periods of drought
- Direct sowing between April and August
- Prepare the soil in a fine crumb to sow the seeds
- Sieve thinly with sand or vermiculite and moisten with a fine shower
- At 18 to 20 degrees Celsius and regular watering, germination takes 20 to 30 days
- Prick out after 4 to 6 weeks at a distance of 30 x 30 cm
- Dig up the perennial in spring or autumn
- Shake off the old soil and place on a stable surface
- Split with a knife to cut out the senescent root sections
- Prinses Juliana: Geum chiloense with a fantastic long-distance effect thanks to its orange flowers; Growth height 20-60 cm
- Ruby: The variety impresses with flowers in rich red, which no viewer can resist; Growth height 40-60 cm
- Diana: Little Geum who draws charming garden pictures with bright yellow flowers; Growth height 20-30 cm
- Lionel Cox: Beautiful pondside avens with cream flowers; Growth height 20-30 cm
- Three-flowered avens: A magnificent counterpart to the Bach Geum with red bell-shaped flowers in the rock garden; Growth height 10-30 cm
Plant avens properly
Geum grown in containers can be planted in the bed between April and August, as long as there is no sweltering heat or desert-like drought. After the soil has been thoroughly weeded and raked in the sunny to partially shaded location, dig small planting pits at a distance of 20 to 40 cm. Mix in one-third mature compost and horn shavings (€32.93) to the excavation before planting the potted avens in it. Water generously and regularly on the day of planting and afterwards so that the perennial can take root well. Waterlogging must be avoided at all costs. A mulch layer made of leaves, grass clippings or bark mulch keeps the soil moist and warm for longer.
care tips
Avens is the ideal anti-stress perennial for the hobby gardener with limited time. A Geum is happy to accept the following care program, but does not take it amiss if one or the other measure fails:
The evergreen or evergreen foliage decorates the garden during the cold season and serves as a retreat for insects. The pruning close to the ground therefore only takes place shortly before new sprouting, not without first checking the perennial for animal winter guests.
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Which location is suitable?
The multi-faceted Geum genus offers a pleasing flexibility in terms of site selection. For example, the frugal mountain avens (Geum montanum) or the Chilean avens (Geum chiloense) are ideal for full sun to sunny locations. If it is necessary to green a partially shaded location with Geum, the red avens (Geum coccineum) is on the spot or one of the countless hybrids. Only in shady locations does the spring perennial become limp.
What soil does the plant need?
The wide-ranging Geum genus has adequate species and varieties for almost every soil condition. We have put together a small selection for you from the more than 50 species and several hundred varieties:
When is flowering time?
With distinctive bell-shaped flowers, the avens begins its long flowering period from April. As the spring sun caresses the blossoms, the bells unfold into magnificent shells in rich yellow and orange tones through to bright red and white. Since the majority of Geum species and varieties are able to reproduce, the flowering period extends into August after pruning.
Properly cut clove root
After the first blooming, cut the avens down to the upper stem leaves. With a little luck, a portion of compost and nice summer weather, the perennial will bloom again. You can create magnificent bouquets with the most beautiful flower stems. Cut off the shoots that have just blossomed for a long shelf life. The perennial continues its decorative work with its evergreen foliage during the cold season, only to be cut off close to the ground in January/February.
Pour the clove root
The water balance is adapted to the cultivated avens species or variety. The brook avens, for example, requires frequent watering, while the Chilean avens knows how to come to terms with short-term drought. The rule of thumb for all Geum is that the root ball should not dry out at any time, because the perennial will hardly recover from this stress.
Fertilize the avens properly
In the wild, the avens acts as a pioneer plant, which suggests a low nutrient requirement. Nevertheless, a portion of ripe compost with horn shavings (€32.93) shortly before the start of the flowering period promotes vitality and abundance of flowers in equal measure. Ideally, repeat this care after the summer pruning for a rich after-bloom.
hibernate
Botanists assign the avens to the hardiness zones Z 5 and Z 6, so that the perennial is considered completely winter-proof. Nevertheless, we recommend a mulch layer of leaves and brushwood in the first two years, as the frost hardiness only builds up gradually. Cultivated in pots and balcony boxes, precautions against frost are essential so that the root ball does not freeze through. To do this, place the container on cold-insulating material and cover it with foil, jute or garden fleece.
Propagate clove root
The avens offers amateur gardeners two uncomplicated methods of propagation. The division of the root ball in early spring also serves to rejuvenate the perennial, as it wilts from the middle after 3-5 years. In addition, there is the possibility of sowing, which with a little luck will give you a flowering Geum in the first year. The most important work steps at a glance:
If the seedlings are pinched once about 4 weeks after pricking out, this measure contributes to bushy, luxuriantly branched growth.
How do I plant correctly?
After 3 to 5 years, the avens tends to bare from the inside. You can effectively prevent this deficiency with a targeted transplant. This is how the plan works:
Replant each segment that has at least 2 shoots in the new location. If you want the pretty flowers to continue to appear in their previous place, enrich the soil with compost, horn shavings and a handful of sand.
Is clove root poisonous?
Instead of toxic ingredients, healing eugenol and other ingredients flow through the classic clove root. Even in ancient times, the rhizome of the wild species was used to give wine and beer more flavor. Hildegard von Bingen and the healing pastor Künzel swore by the healing powers of the real avens. The plant has a reputation for heart strengthening, antispasmodic, hemostatic and anti-inflammatory effects.