Geum montanum

RHS Plant Profile
alpine avens

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Geum montanum?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
alpine avens Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

yellow-flowered mountain avens

Synonyms

Geum alpinum

Award of Garden MeritPlants for pollinators
Alpine Rockery Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
4 Suppliers

A rhizomatous perennial to 15cm in height, making a compact clump of pinnate dark green leaves with large terminal leaflets. In spring and early summer bears cup-shaped, deep golden-yellow flowers 3-4cm in width are usually solitary on short stems

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or North–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H6

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Geum are rhizomatous perennials, occasionally spreading by stolons, with a basal rosette of pinnately lobed leaves and saucer-shaped flowers in loose clusters
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
C & S Europe

How to Grow

Cultivation

Suitable for the rock garden or front of borders. Avoid soil that is waterlogged

Propagation

Propagate by seed or division in autumn or spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Rock garden
  • Gravel garden
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wildflower meadow
  • Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead regularly

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, aphids and sawflies

Diseases

Generally disease-free