Geum chiloense Red Dragon - Chilean avens seeds

Geum chiloense 'Red Dragon' is an attractive selection sought after for its doubly vibrant red flowers. They are eye-catching in the garden from June to August, swaying nonchalantly at the end of their flexible stems. This easy-to-grow perennial adapts to most soils, preferably moist and well-drained, and thrives in full sun or partial shade. Perfect in mixed borders or rock gardens, it can also be grown in a pot to brighten up a terrace or balcony.

Geums are members of the large Rosaceae family, which includes not only numerous ornamental plants but also many wild plants found in our countryside, as well as most of our fruit trees. The genus Geum comprises about fifty species of herbaceous perennial plants from temperate and cold regions of both hemispheres.
Geum chiloense, commonly known as the Red Avens or Chilean Avens, is indeed native to Chile. It can be found in the southern part of the country, in Patagonia, where it is endemic to the Chiloé Archipelago from which it gets its species name. The botanical species forms a basal rosette of pinnate leaves, about 30 cm (12in) long, forming an upright and branching clump with hairy stems. This rhizomatous perennial produces bright red cup-shaped flowers in summer, from July to September. The plant inherited excellent hardiness from its geographical origin.
'Red Dragon' is a horticultural variety very similar to the wild species. It has beautifully cut foliage ranging from medium to dark green, which contrasts admirably with the flowers. With an average diameter of 3.5 cm (1in), the flowers are highly double, with elegantly wavy petals that give it an undeniable charm. The heart, adorned with golden stamens, adds a decorative touch. Flowering begins in June, sometimes even at the end of May depending on the year and climate, and lasts until August, especially if faded flowers are removed to promote the production of new buds. The flowers are solitary or grouped in loose panicles of a few units and reach a height of 60 cm (24in), swaying gracefully in the wind, giving the garden a slightly wild and natural look. They are appreciated by bees and bumblebees. If not pruned, they develop into fruits that are hairy achenes equipped with a small hook to ensure their dispersal by animals. Growing Avens is easy, as they can be sown early and behave like annuals, providing flowering in the first year. They thrive in full sun or partial shade, in moist, humus-bearing, well-drained soil, whether it is limestone, neutral, or acidic.

This 'Red Dragon' Geum possesses a certain romantic charm that will fit well in a cottage garden as well as in a more wild scene. Its size also allows it to be easily grown in a pot to enjoy its long flowering period on a terrace or balcony. You can plant it at the edge of a border alongside other, similar perennials such as Achillea Little Moonshine, whose compound yellow flowers will create a strong contrast against the red of the Avens. In the foreground of your scene, plant some clumps of Rock Soapwort (Saponaria ocymoides), a ground-covering perennial that will quickly colonise bare soil and produce a profusion of small pink flowers from May to July. And to extend the flowering period of your border, go for Japanese Anemone Septemberglanz, which will offer you lovely single pink flowers with a yellow heart from August to October, taking over from your Geum.