Description
Geum rivale
CT DR RG P
Soil: Fertile, Acidic, Well-drained
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Light: Full to Part Sun
Plant Height: 8 to 18 inches
Plant Width: to 12 inches
Pests: Powdery mildew possible
Landscape Value: Good for massing in borders. Great in damp deciduous woodlands, wet meadows, and along stream and pond edges. Makes an attractive ground cover after blooming.
An attractive, robust, clump-forming perennial with large basal leaves that are divided into toothed leaflets. Nodding, bell-shaped flowers appear at the tips of upright, hairy stems in late spring to mid-summer. Flowers have brown-purple outer sepals, cream to pink inner petals, and 100+ yellow stamens. Pollination is primarily by bees, especially bumblebees, and occasionally by flies and sap beetles. As flowers mature, plants will self-fertilize if not already cross-pollinated. Deadheading spent flowers will encourage additional blooms. Fruits are burr-like achenes (one-seeded fruits) that are distributed after being caught in the coats of small mammals. Attracts butterflies. Plants grow best with afternoon shade during summer months, as they tend to struggle with heat and humidity. Roots can be made into a flavorful tea, and dried roots repel moths!
5-pint pot
Photo credits:
Native Plant Trust (photo by Curtis Bjork)
www.gardenia.net
