Geum TEMPO™ 'Orange'

Geum TEMPO™ 'Orange': Cream, Peach and Tangerine on a Tidy Plant

Cream, peach and orange in one flower, like a creamsicle that refused to melt. This avens starts early, stays compact and never slumps over in the heat of the moment. KEEPING THE BEAT IN SHERBET.

Plant Characteristics:

• Botanical Name: Geum hybrid
• Common Name: Avens
• Series: TEMPO™, from Terra Nova® Nurseries
• Height: 23–38 cm (9–15 in)
• Spread: 40 cm (16 in)
• Flowers: Small, single to double, opening in cream, peach and orange tones; stems reach about 38 cm (15 in)
• Bloom Time: Mid-spring to early summer (April to June)
• Foliage: Green leaves in a tight mound about 23 cm (9 in) tall
• Features: Early and long blooming, compact, non-floppy habit

Where to Plant: Use it at the front of a sunny or lightly shaded border, along a walkway, in a rock garden or in containers. It fills the gap between spring and early summer bloom.

Companion Plants: Lavender Phlomis tuberosa rises 90 to 150 cm behind the orange avens and blooms from June to August. Stachys 'Hummelo' adds purple spikes at 45 to 60 cm in the same summer window. Tuck Platycodon 'Astra Blue' at the front for blue balloon flowers from June to August. The avens blooms first, from April to June, so this trio picks up the colour once it's done.

Plant Care: Plant it in full sun to part sun, in moist, loamy, well-drained soil. Give it average water through summer. Avens dislike soggy winter soil, so skip low spots that collect water. Remove spent flower stems to keep it neat. Clean up old leaves in early spring. Divide every few years in spring if the clump looks tired.

History: Terra Nova® Nurseries in Oregon developed the TEMPO™ series to bring avens a tight, sturdy habit and an early, long bloom. 'Orange' launched the series and is listed among Terra Nova's 2018 introductions.

Final Thoughts: Plant three along a sunny edge and let them set the pace for the whole bed. The deer don't dance. THEIR LOSS.