Geum


Geum, commonly called avens, is a genus of about 50 species of rhizomatous perennial herbaceous plants in the rose family and its subfamily Rosoideae, widespread across Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa, and New Zealand. They are closely related to Potentilla and Fragaria. From a basal rosette of leaves, they produce flowers on wiry stalks, in shades of white, red, yellow, and orange, in midsummer. Geum species are evergreen except where winter temperatures drop below. The cultivars 'Lady Stratheden', and 'Mrs J. Bradshaw' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
Geum species are used as food by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the grizzled skipper.

Selected species

For a more detailed list see List of Geum species.