Geums: A Garden Favourite for Colour and Cheer

 

Geums might just be one of the most underrated gems in the perennial garden. With their bold, cheerful blooms and long flowering season, these hardy perennials deserve a place in every border. Loved for their vibrant colours ranging from soft apricots to fiery reds and oranges, Geums are reliable performers that thrive in full sun or partial shade and well-drained soil.

Whether you're planting up the front of a border, adding classics to your cottage garden, or trialling the latest cultivars, there's a Geum for every gardener. Here’s a look at some of the best varieties.

Short & Stylish: Perfect for the Front of the Border

If you're looking to add a splash of colour to the edge of your beds or the front of a border, compact Geums are ideal. These low-growing varieties offer neat mounds of foliage and vibrant blooms that don't overwhelm nearby plants.

• Geum ‘Borisii’ – A compact variety with vivid orange flowers that bloom from late spring. Its tidy habit makes it a great choice for edging paths or in containers.

                Height and Spread: 50 x 50cm

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• Geum ‘Mai Tai’ – Soft, ruffled blooms in shades of peach and pink open from dark buds, giving a gentle, romantic look. It’s a favourite for soft pastel planting schemes.

        Height and Spread: 30 x 50cm

• Geum Tempo Series – With varieties like ‘Tempo Orange’, ‘Tempo Rose’ and ‘Tempo Yellow’, this series is bred for neatness and consistent flowering. Their short stature and strong stems make them fantastic at the front of borders or in pots.

Height and Spread: 50 x 50cm

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These short geums are perfect for threading warmth and vibrancy through your planting without stealing the show.

Traditional Favourites: Tried and Trusted

No cottage garden would be complete without the classic charm of traditional Geums. These time-tested varieties are garden stalwarts, known for their resilience and nostalgic flair.

• Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ – A bold variety with bright scarlet-red, semi-double blooms that appear from late spring into summer. One of the most recognisable geums, and a true classic.

Height and Spread: 60 x 50cm

RHS Award of Garden Merit

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• Geum ‘Lady Stratheden’ – Cheerful, semi-double yellow flowers and fresh green foliage make this a sunny addition to any planting scheme. It’s great for adding brightness to mixed borders.

Height and Spread: 60 x 50cm

Credit David Stang, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.

Both of these ladies are award-winners and known for their long flowering and dependable performance. They’re perfect for filling middle-of-the-border gaps with colour that keeps coming.

New & Free-Flowering: The Next Generation of Geums

Recent breeding has given us geums that flower more profusely and for longer – often right through summer into early autumn. If you love long-lasting colour and minimal fuss, these newer varieties are worth planting.

• Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ – Perhaps the best-known of the modern cultivars, ‘Totally Tangerine’ is a powerhouse in the garden. It produces a cloud of soft orange flowers on tall, wiry stems that seem to go on for months. This variety is sterile and will not self-seed.

Height and Spread: 90 x 50cm

RHS Award of Garden Merit

• Geum Tempest Series – These are bred for exceptional flower power and garden performance. Varieties like ‘Tempest Tempest’ and ‘Fiery Tempest’ bring saturated colour and sturdy stems, all on a compact frame. They’re perfect for low-maintenance borders where flower power is key as they bloom from late spring to early autumn.

Height and Spread: 50 x 50cm

These modern geums offer the best of both worlds – reliable perennials that bloom freely and bring pollinators flocking.

Final Thoughts

With their vibrant colours, long flowering season, and tolerance of varying conditions, Geums are a gardener’s best friend. Whether you're planting up a new border or refreshing an established bed, there's a Geum that can lift the whole space. Combine different heights and colours for an evolving display from spring to late summer – and don’t be surprised if they become one of your favourites too.

Happy planting!