How to grow geums

More on growing geums:

• Best geums to grow
• Gardening for beginners: combining plants
• What to grow with Alchemilla mollis

Find out more about growing geums, in our detailed Grow Guide.

Where to grow geums

Grow geums in a moisture retentive soil. They thrive in acid or alkaline soils but won’t cope well in very dry soils or in a baking hot south-facing border.

Geum rivale types do best in a shady spot and are ideal partners for hellebores. Geum chiloense types can cope with more sunshine but their semi-evergreen foliage is easily scorched in hot weather.

Geums won’t cope well with a sodden wet soil in winter.

How to plant geums

Improve the water retentiveness of the soil by digging in plenty of organic matter before planting. Firm plants in well and water. Water regularly during dry summers.

Propagating geums

Geums spread by rhizomes. Side shoots are easy to dig up and can be replanted in the garden. Plants can also be divided in spring and will set seed.

Growing geums: problem solving

Geums are trouble-free plants – even deer and slugs aren’t interested in them. But, if grown in containers, they can be susceptible to vine weevil. Vine weevil damage is simple to detect. Adult weevils eat notches out of the foliage from spring to late summer. Vine weevil grubs eat the roots, often causing the plant to die. Burn affected plants or treat with nematodes. You can buy chemical vine weevil killers, but bear in mind that these are systemic pesticides that harm bees – remove all flowers from the plant up to six months after applying.

Caring for geums

Deadhead plants after flowering. To encourage strong geums with plenty of flowers, divide plants every three years. If you fail to divide plants they'll become woody and may die. To ensure the plants are long-lived, make a point of dividing them.

When to divide geums

If geums start to look bare in the centre, they're in need of dividing. In some cases you'll need to reject the heart of the plant. 

Great geums to grow:

• Geum rivale ‘Leonard’s Variety’ – ideal for shade or semi-shade. Identified by their nodding semi-double flowers of a rusty soft red colour. Height 45cm

• Geum coccineum ‘Koi’ – an alpine type with a height of 30cm. Shocking orange flowers

• Geum ‘Mrs J. Bradshaw’ – bright red summer flowers. Enjoys full sun. A popular plant for its height of 75cm

• Geum ‘Alabama Slammer’ – a new semi-double with ruffled orange flowers. Flowers in April, May and June and reaches 30cm in height

• Geum ‘Mai Tai’ – enjoys a cool spot. Apricot flowers on 45cm stems