Avens (Geum 'Totally Tangerine')
Vibrant orange-peach blooms characterize Geum 'Totally Tangerine' Avens, a low-maintenance perennial for zones 5-7.
Scroll down to discover growing tips, care requirements, companion plants, and more
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ is a highly valued herbaceous perennial known for its unusually long bloom season, providing reliable color from late spring well into autumn. This specific hybrid, commonly called Avens, produces masses of bright orange-peach flowers held above neat basal foliage, offering significant visual impact in the border. As a result of careful breeding, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ offers robust growth and low maintenance requirements, making it an ideal choice for gardeners seeking consistent performance.
This clump-forming perennial thrives when given consistent moisture and well-drained soil. While low maintenance generally applies, gardeners in hotter climates should pay close attention to hydration, as the plant struggles in intense summer heat, particularly south of Zone 7. The attractive foliage provides good coverage, and deadheading can extend the fantastic display of the Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ year after year.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-7
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1-2.5 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1.5 ft
- Bloom Time: May to September
- Bloom Description: Orange-peach
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
Plant Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ in the spring or early fall when conditions are cooler, ensuring the location offers full sun exposure or partial afternoon shade, especially where summers are severe. The most critical factor is soil health; aim for moist, fertile, and, most importantly, well-drained media. Avoid locating Avens where it will sit in cold, wet soil during the winter, as this is often fatal to the plant.
Watering should be medium and consistent to keep the soil evenly moist, mimicking its preferred environment. Maintenance is generally easy; routinely remove spent flowers (deadheading) to encourage a continuous rebloom cycle throughout the season. However, consider leaving some spent blooms later in the season to develop their attractive, fluffy seed heads for visual interest.
Every few years, divide the clump in the spring to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding, especially as the plant establishes itself. In warmer southern zones, the foliage of this Geum remains evergreen, providing winter structure, but diligent attention to drainage remains paramount for survival.
Landscape Uses
The vibrant color and upright habit of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ make it an excellent addition to mass plantings within cottage-style borders or contemporary perennial beds. They shine when planted in drifts, allowing the mass of orange-peach flowers to create a strong focal point between May and September. Their relative compactness also suits them well for placement in rock gardens where drainage is naturally excellent.
As an effective vertical element, Avens lifts the eye above shorter foreground plants. While excellent alone, consider pairing them with plants that appreciate similar moisture levels but offer contrasting textures or colors, such as deep blue Salvia cultivars or silver-leaved perennials that appreciate the dappled shade they often tolerate. The leaves also create an attractive, low-growing mound suitable for use as an informal ground cover when blooming ceases.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The genus Geum includes roughly 50 species found across the Americas, Asia, New Zealand, and Africa. The cultivar ‘Totally Tangerine’, commonly known as Avens, is a strong hybrid resulting from a cross made in 1999. This large Geum variety develops a basal mound of rough-textured, medium green leaves, from which branched sprays of lovely orange-peach flowers rise high, sometimes reaching 30 inches. The blooms are sterile, meaning they do not produce viable fruit or seed, but this sterility contributes to the plant’s exceptionally long blooming period.
Tolerances
Potential Problems
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ generally exhibits good resistance to most common insect pests and diseases. The primary threat to this Avens variety comes from environmental stress rather than pests. Plants may exhibit reduced longevity, particularly if grown in heavy clay soils that impede drainage. Furthermore, regions experiencing consistently hot and humid summers, especially areas south of USDA Zone 7, can cause the plant stress, sometimes leading to premature decline. Ensure sharp winter drainage to prevent crown rot.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Avens suitable for?
Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ is best suited for gardeners located in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 through 7.
How large does Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ grow?
This perennial typically reaches a height between 1 and 2.5 feet, spreading outward approximately 0.75 to 1.5 feet wide.
What sun exposure does Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ need?
For optimal flowering and health, this Avens variety prefers full sun, but it benefits substantially from some afternoon shade in areas experiencing intense summer heat.
When does Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ bloom?
You can expect the brilliant orange-peach blooms of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ to appear consistently from May all the way through September.
Conclusion
The reliable, long-season color provided by the striking orange-peach flowers makes Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ an indispensable plant for mid-border interest. Its low maintenance profile and attractive foliage contribute significantly to garden aesthetics from spring until fall. Before planting, ensure your site meets the well-drained soil requirements and falls within USDA Zones 5-7 to guarantee the best performance from your new Avens.
Propagation Tips
Division is the primary method for propagating healthy clumps of Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ and maximizing their lifespan in the garden. This process should be undertaken in the spring just as new growth is emerging. Carefully dig up the entire clump and gently separate the established root mass into smaller sections, ensuring each new section has a healthy set of leaves and roots attached. Replant these divisions immediately at the same depth in prepared, fertile soil, and water thoroughly to help them re-establish quickly.
Companion Planting
Due to the medium water needs and preference for relatively rich soil, Geum ‘Totally Tangerine’ pairs beautifully with other perennials that thrive in similar conditions but offer subtle contrasts. Consider planting alongside Geraniums (Cranesbill) like ‘Rozanne’ for continuous blue/purple contrast, or use delicate white Astilbes where light shade is provided. Planting these Avens near structural, dark-leaved plants, such as dark Heuchera, will make the bright orange-peach glow even more intensely during the midday sun.
