Geum coccineum Koi

Geum coccineum 'Koi' is a beautiful improvement of the orange avens, a lovely perennial plant from Europe that thrives in our climates. This cultivar stands out with its particularly long flowering period and compact habit. Each single flower has a flattened cup shape and frilly petals. They display a particularly vibrant brick orange colour, above a tuft of velvety foliage in a bright green shade. Simple and sturdy, avens used to be found in every flower garden. They thrive in sunny, well-drained and fertile soil. This dwarf variety is also worth trying in pots or even in rock gardens, as it tolerates slightly drier soils. 

Geum are hardy herbaceous perennials from the Rosaceae family. They are native to temperate or colder regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. Geum coccineum, also known as orange avens, is a perennial plant native to Southeastern Europe. 'Koi' is a horticultural selection. It forms a clump of basal foliage composed of bright green upright, semi-evergreen leaves. They are rounded and lobed, finely velvety, and measure 10 to 15cm (4 to 6in) long. From May to September, it bears clusters bearing two to four cup-shaped flowers, 4cm (2in) in diameter. These bright orange flowers are slightly translucent with well-visible veins and are enhanced by a large heart of prominent yellow stamens. The flowers are borne on thin, branching stems, held loosely above the foliage. This variety reaches 40 to 50cm (16 to 20in) in height and 30cm (12in) in width. Like many long-flowering perennials, this avens does not have a very long lifespan, so it is advisable to divide it every three years to keep it in the garden for a long time.

Hardy and very floriferous, it is an easy, accommodating plant, worth planting for its simplicity and solidity. It enjoys sunny or semi-shaded positions, and grows in ordinary, moist, but well-drained soil. To fully enjoy its magnificent flowering, plant 'Koi' at the edge of borders, flower beds, in rock gardens, or even in pots. Its flower stalks make beautiful bouquets. It is important to leave enough clearance around its base as the plant needs space to grow. It will blend beautifully with other spring and summer flowering perennials. Its orange flowers will contrast perfectly with the blue of delphiniums and veronicas. You can create sublime scenes with vibrant colours by mixing several varieties of avens together. In the sun, it pairs perfectly with daylilies, rudbeckias, scabious, wallflowers, and hardy geraniums.