3 named cultivars

perennial

Avens

Geum coccineum

The Story

Plant Bio

Geum coccineum, one of the plants called avens, is a clump-forming perennial from southeastern Europe and Turkey. It makes a low basal mound of divided, softly hairy leaves about six inches high, from which wiry branching stems carry red-orange saucer flowers to a foot or eighteen inches. Flowering runs from May into July.

It is short-lived in heavy clay and in hot humid summers, and gardeners in the deep South usually lose it within a season or two rather than growing it badly. Where summers are warm, give it afternoon shade, sharp drainage and a division every second spring, which keeps young growth coming and offsets the short life.

Uses & Benefits:

Bright red-orange saucers on wiry stems above a neat foliage mound through early summer.

The basal foliage stays presentable after flowering and works as low cover at a border front.

Open saucer flowers are easily worked by bees and hoverflies in late spring and early summer.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Perennial

Height

15 inches

Width

12 inches

Light

Full Sun, Partial Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Southeastern Europe and Turkey

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in full sun to part shade.
Choose fertile, moist but freely draining soil.
Set the crown level with the surrounding soil.
Water through dry spells; it dislikes drying out.
Deadhead spent stems to extend the flowering season.
Divide every second spring to keep clumps vigorous.

Pro Tip

Treat it as a plant to divide rather than one to leave alone; the clumps decline quickly once they get woody at the centre.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Give it moist but sharply drained soil 💧
Divide every second spring 🌱
Deadhead to prolong the flowering season ✂️
Use afternoon shade in warm regions 🌤️

Don't

Plant it in heavy, wet clay ❌
Expect it to persist through hot, humid summers ❌
Leave old clumps undivided for years ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Deadhead
Divide

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Front-of-border massingRock garden and gravel plantingLow ground cover after flowering

Companion Plants

Hardy Geranium Lady's Mantle Catmint Coral Bells Dianthus

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Avens questions

What zones can Avens grow in?

Avens is hardy in USDA Zones 4–7. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Avens deer resistant?

Yes — Avens is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Avens bloom?

Avens typically blooms in late spring to midsummer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Avens need full sun?

Avens does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.