Some gardeners tend to shy away from hot colours. But in late spring warm orange sprinkled through sultry tulips has real eye appeal. I had a timely reminder when I visited Derry Watkins's garden at ...

What: Long blooming, frilly double red flowers grace the Geum “Double Bloody Mary” all summer long. The flowers are held in open sprays on strong stems, creating a bright and airy feel. The foliage ...

When it comes to plant buying, I tend to be resistant to new introductions. I generally stick with varieties that have a track record in cultivation and, preferably, that I’ve actually seen growing in ...

Ring the changes: Geum 'Bell Bank' is a flamboyant plant that is a worthy tribute to creator Geoffrey Smith Credit: Photo: gardenpicture.com Many readers will remember the late Geoffrey Smith and his ...

This long-flowerer is a must-have for Chelsea gardens Plant fashions evolve slowly. It’s taken the geum nearly a decade to move up to its current position as a must-have for Chelsea gardens; visitors ...

What is it? Geums are a conundrum: why aren't these easy-going hardy perennials more popular? Let's hope this one wins your heart. It should: its double, brick-red blooms are much bigger than more run ...

Training as a gardener back in Britain, avens (or geums as they are properly known) were familiar to me only as a crafty weed to be dug up and thrown into the compost bin. Resistant to herbicides and ...