Geum chiloense Mrs Bradshaw seeds - Chilean Avens

Avens 'Mrs Bradshaw' (Geum chiloense) will delight gardeners looking for a plant with easy and prolonged flowering. Its scarlet red flowers brighten up borders and beds from May to July. This perennial plant adapts well to both open ground and pots, and its cut flowers are charming in fresh bouquets.

A member of the Rosaceae family, the Avens 'Mrs Bradshaw' is a cultivar obtained in the 19th century, distinguished by its semi-double flowers measuring 4 to 5 cm in diameter, in a bright red colour. These flowers cluster in loose panicles on upright stems that can reach 60 cm in height. The dark green foliage consists of deeply lobed basal leaves, slightly hairy. The stems are robust and purplish, contrasting beautifully with the foliage. The main flowering period is from May to July, with sometimes a comeback in late summer if faded flowers are regularly deadheaded. This perennial plant thrives in fertile, humus-bearing, well-drained soils, but dislikes excess winter moisture. It is hardy down to -28°C (zone 4) and shows good disease resistance. The foliage of Avens 'Mrs Bradshaw' is not evergreen in most climates. In regions with cold winters, it is deciduous, meaning the leaves die in winter before regrowing in spring. However, in milder climates, particularly in higher hardiness zones (zones 8 and above), the foliage can be semi-evergreen, providing some vegetative cover throughout the year.

The botanical species Geum chiloense, commonly known as Red Avens or Chilean Avens, is indeed native to Chile. It is found in the southern part of the country, in Patagonia, where it is endemic to the Chiloé archipelago from which it derives its species name.

Avens 'Mrs Bradshaw' is suitable for borders, cottage gardens, and even rockeries. For a harmonious composition, pair it with Nepeta 'Six Hills Giant', whose lavender blue complements the red of its flowers, or with Heuchera 'Obsidian', with dark leaves that contrast with the Avens foliage. Grasses, such as Carex comans ‘Bronze Form’, can be chosen for their lightness, and perennials like Sedum 'Purple Emperor' to add texture variety to a composition.