Totally Tangerine avens

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; afternoon shade helps in hot summers.

Water

Keep the soil moderately moist, especially during establishment and flowering. Avoid both prolonged drought and waterlogged ground.

Soil

Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil; tolerates a range of soil pH. Improve heavy clay drainage before planting.

Height

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m), including flower stems

Spread

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Flowers

Apricot to tangerine-orange flowers from late spring through summer, with scattered flowers into autumn where conditions remain cool and moist.

Foliage

Low rosettes of green, lobed, slightly hairy leaves. Foliage may remain through mild winters but dies back in colder areas.

Growth

Moderate; usually forms a substantial flowering clump within two growing seasons.

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Deer resistant
• Cold hardy
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Fairly tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1 ft (0.3 m)

2. After 1 year

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

3. After 2 years

   2 ft (0.6 m)

4. After 3 years

   2.5 ft (0.75 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Safe

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during dry spells rather than giving frequent light sprinkles.
• Work compost into the planting area and top-dress with a thin layer each spring.
• Mulch around the clump to conserve moisture, keeping mulch clear of the crown.
• Keep the crown at soil level and avoid sites that stay wet in winter.
• Divide crowded or declining clumps every three to four years in spring or early autumn.

Pruning. Remove faded flower stems back to their base to keep the clump tidy and encourage further flowering. In late winter or early spring, remove dead leaves without cutting into the central crown.

Early spring

Remove winter-damaged leaves and top-dress with compost.

Spring

Plant new specimens or divide established clumps; water thoroughly afterwards.

Late spring

Apply mulch before the soil dries, leaving the crown uncovered.

Summer

Remove spent flower stems and water during dry spells.

Early autumn

Divide congested clumps in mild climates, allowing time for roots to establish before winter.

Winter

Check that water drains freely around the crown; leave healthy foliage in place.

• Plant in small groups through mixed borders, where the tall stems rise above lower perennials.
• Pair with blue or violet catmint and hardy geraniums for a clear orange-and-blue contrast.
• Weave among fine-textured ornamental grasses for an informal, airy planting.
• Use beside paths where the flowers can be seen closely, allowing room for stems to lean outward.

Garden styles it suits: Cottage garden, English country, New perennial (prairie), Pollinator garden, Hot border and Modern rustic.

Plant it with: Catmint, Hardy geranium, Meadow sage, Lady's mantle, Masterwort and Tufted hair grass.

Wildlife: The open flowers provide pollen and nectar for bees and other visiting insects. This cultivar is generally sterile, so it offers little seed for birds and does not normally self-sow.

• Crown or root rot in saturated soil: improve drainage or move the plant to a better-drained position, keeping the crown at soil level.
• Powdery mildew during dry, stressful weather: water the root zone consistently, improve air circulation and remove badly affected leaves.
• Vine weevil larvae, especially in containers: inspect roots of wilting plants and use an appropriate biological control where available.
• Scorched foliage and reduced flowering in hot, dry summers: provide afternoon shade and consistent moisture.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. No particular plant part is recognised as poisonous, although specific information for this cultivar is limited; it is not an edible plant.

• Boris avens (Geum coccineum 'Borisii')

  Also has orange flowers, but usually forms a shorter plant with a more concentrated early-summer display rather than the tall, airy, prolonged flowering of 'Totally Tangerine'.

• Mrs Bradshaw avens (Geum 'Mrs J. Bradshaw')

  Has scarlet-red, usually semi-double flowers rather than the open apricot-orange flowers of 'Totally Tangerine'.

The cultivar name 'Totally Tangerine' refers to its orange flowers.

Propagation. Divide established clumps in spring or early autumn, retaining healthy roots and growing points on each piece. This generally sterile cultivar is not reliably propagated from seed; check local plant breeders' rights or patent restrictions before propagating.

Accepted botanical name

Geum

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.