Water Avens is a perennial with beautiful bell-like flowers. The Geum rivale prefers to grow near water and is very easy to care for.
With its hanging flower heads, the brook avens (Geum rivale) is a welcome eye-catcher in a water-rich garden. The wild perennials loosen up the picture in the cottage garden and prefer to thrive on streams and pond edges. The evergreen filigree plants are also suitable as underplanting. Cultivation is also possible for inexperienced hobby gardeners. In combination with columbines or forget-me-nots, an attractive garden picture is created that does not require much effort.Origin and Distribution
The brook avens is a wild perennial native to the whole of Europe. The plants can be found along streams, in alluvial forests or on wet meadows. Only in the Mediterranean area is there a lack of corresponding deposits. In Germany, the stock is available almost everywhere. The plant is only missing in a few areas of Lower Saxony. In the Alps, the avens grows up to an altitude of 2,000 meters.
The importance as an ornamental plant goes back a long way. The brook avens was already included in the baroque garden of the Prince Bishop of Eichstätt. Copper engravings of the plant were made for a herbarium in the early 17th century.
| Brook Avens (Geum rivale) | |
|---|---|
| Growth: | clumpy, upright, overhanging |
| Growth: | 20 - 60 cm |
| Growth: | 20 - 30 cm |
| Flowering: | May - June |
| Location: | Sun to partial shade |
| Floor: | fresh to moist, permeable, pH from 5.5 to 8.0 |
Planting Brook Avens
➔ Find the right location
It is an undemanding plant that thrives in sunny and partially shaded locations. Plants do best in semi-shade. A location near the garden pond or small streams is preferred. Anyone who cannot offer this in the garden must ensure an adequate water supply when cultivating in open spaces.
➔ Ground Requirements
The brook avens loves youdamp ground. Moor meadows are also populated at natural locations. Any conventional garden soil is suitable for cultivation. A well-drained sandy soil with clay content corresponds to the ideal growth conditions.
➔ Planting instructions - step by step
- Select Location
- Prepare the ground
- Water plant
- Dig planting hole
- Insert plant
- Fill substrate
- Press the earth
- Water the plant well
» Tip: If no more bubbles rise from the water container, the plant has been supplied with sufficient liquid.
After planting, water the avens sufficiently.
Pruning Brook Avens
The plant should not be pruned until it has completely faded. New flowers appear throughout the season. When the plant's nodding flower heads and feathery seed pods stand together, it has a very special appeal.
Propagating Brook Avens
If the plants are older and have spread accordingly, their willingness to grow and bloom usually decreases. Then is the right time for propagation by division.
Share Brook Avens - step by step
- Loosen the soil
- Dig up plant
- Exposing and cleaning roots
- Split plant into several pieces
- Transplant sections separately
Plants can be dug up in spring or immediately after flowering. It is best to use a digging fork for this. Be careful not to damage the roots. Once the plant is dug up, the roots are cleaned. This is a good opportunity to remove old and dead root parts. Only young and intact sections should be transplanted.
» Tip: A little compost in the planting hole helps the plants to recover quickly and grow well.
Winter avens
The evergreen plants survive temperatures down to -15 degrees without any problems. Winter protection is not necessary. In mild winters, the avens will even flower, bringing a welcome breath of fresh air to a dreary garden.
Brook Avens - popular varieties
Due to the largeVariety selection can be provided for variety in the garden bed. The following table lists some of the most popular varieties of Brook Avens. These were bred from the original form and a wild white form called "Album".
| Type | Flower Color / Characteristic |
|---|---|
| Flames of Passion | • red flowers • semi-double flowers • compact habit |
| Leonard`s Variety | • copper pink flowers • English selection |
| Pink Frills | • pink flowers • fringed flowers • growth height up to 40 cm |
| Lionel Cox | • cream flowers • brown-red stems |
| Lemon Drops | • yellow flowers • growth height up to 30 cm |
| Lightsource | • yellow flower • height of growth 15 cm |